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16
Feb 2016
Article
I Artikel
O
ne of the prize winners
was the entry by the
Veterinary Genetics
Laboratory (VGL)
of the Faculty of
Veterinary Science, University of
Pretoria, entitled “Internationalisation
of RhODIS
®
and eRhODIS
TM
as
benchmark forensic tools to combat
wildlife crime”
USAID awards USD10 000 to each
winner and provide technical support
to help them advance their solutions
to stamp out illegal trade in wildlife
and winners are eligible to compete
for a grand prize of up to USD500
000. USAID will use grand prizes
to target and invest in the most
promising solutions.
“Wildlife trafficking not only threatens
to wipe out iconic animals such as
elephants and rhinoceroses, it is also
devastating communities worldwide
through associated criminality,
violence and theft. Through this
program, we are bringing in new
ideas and engaging with new
audiences to halt the devastation
before it is too late,” said Cynthia
Gill, Director of USAID’s Forestry and
Biodiversity Office.
Prize winners were selected
out of a pool of 300
applicants from 52
countries. Winning
innovations
include a variety
of solutions
at all stages
of innovation
that address
four critical
issue areas:
detecting
and predicting transit routes;
strengthening forensic evidence;
reducing consumer demand; and
addressing corruption.
Internationalisation of RhODIS
®
and eRhODIS
TM
was a winner in the
“strengthening forensic evidence”
category.
RhODIS
®
(Rhino DNA Index System)
is a project that was initiated
by the VGL in order to
help with the plight
of the rhinos. The
VGL is collecting
DNA samples of
rhinos across
the country
to create a
database using
the unique
DNA profile of
individual rhinos.
The goal is for all
rhinos to be on the
system. This will deter
poachers and assist in
forensic prosecutions.
RhODIS
®
was first used in a rhino
poaching case in 2010 and resulted
in a Vietnamese citizen being
sentenced to 10 years
imprisonment for having
rhinoceros horns from
poached rhinos in his
baggage when he was
apprehended at OR
Tambo International
Airport. SANParks
have partnered with
RhODIS since 2010
and in association with
the Forensics Science
Laboratory of the South
African Police Services
RhODIS
®
and eRhODIS
TM
come out on top!
On 21 January 2016, the 16 winners of the Wildlife Crime
Tech Challenge were announced. The challenge is an initiative
of USAID, in partnership with National Geographic, the
Smithsonian Institution and the TRAFFIC wildlife trade monitoring
network. Launched in 2014, the Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge
is finding new, innovative solutions to the most intractable issues
in the fight against wildlife trafficking. The program represents
one component of USAID’s efforts to support the National
Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking.
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