The University of Exeter is entering into an exciting new partnership with Forensic Response UK (FRUK), King’s College London and ZSL. Based in the Department of Archaeology and History at Exeter we will supervise academic research and deploy operational scientists in-country to train Rangers and provide experienced hands-on forensic skills.

Our efforts will contribute to maximising the weight of robust forensic evidence for investigations into wildlife poaching that endangers species, depletes biodiversity and feeds the Illegal Wildlife Trade.

FRUK’s reach has thus far extended to Zimbabwe, Mongolia, Benin/Niger and Thailand where they have helped Rangers to protect pangolins, rhino, close-knit elephant herds and many other targeted species. The University of Exeter and King’s College London will be institutional research partners providing excellent analytical facilities and help with overseeing applied research projects e.g. meat markers for roadside testing of bushmeat and novel forensic evidence recovery methods from skins, horn, ivory and scales.

But we can do more…

Exploiting endangered species for huge profits is the relentless pursuit of organised criminal groups and Wildlife Rangers need the tools to ensure that their work brings perpetrators to justice: this is reliant upon robust research, good forensic evidence and casework that can withstand legal scrutiny. We rely upon donations from organisations and individuals who want to play an active role in safeguarding wildlife and biodiversity.

Making a donation to the University of Exeter's research will enable us to develop more research projects aimed at ending this trade, allow more Rangers to be trained, and more cases to be investigated. Donations will be used to cover staff time and equipment in the Archaeology labs working on specific projects linked to forensic testing, as well as travel costs to enable us to train local staff in relevant countries.

This will benefit impoverished economies that rely on wildlife tourism to survive and will help to protect endangered species that enrich our planet – thus furthering our institutional commitment to furthering UN Global Development Goals.

Please help us to support these communities and our quite remarkable animals for future generations.

Thank you

For more information on this research please contact Professor Emma Loosley Leeming on E.Loosley@exeter.ac.uk