Wildlife Crime Investigations: Inside the Nature FIRST Forensic Training in South Africa

As part of the Horizon Europe funded Nature FIRST project, an innovative new course was designed for individuals who are required to help investigate wildlife crimes. This two week course, delivered by experienced forensic scientists, investigators, lawyers and veterinarians, aimed to introduce and expand knowledge and practical skills in wildlife crime investigations including applying current forensic and policing knowledge and skills to wildlife crime investigations, for example, in the recovery, analysis and interpretation of evidence.
First run in March 2024 at the Wildlife Forensic Academy in South Africa, teams from Romania, Bulgaria and Spain participated in a wide range of activities that immersed them in the wide range of wildlife based crime scenes.