JL Richards, V Sheng, WY Chung, CL Ying, ST Ng, Y Sadovy, D Baker (2020) Prevalence of critically endangered European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in Hong Kong supermarkets. Science Advances. 6 (10). (DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay0317)
A Whitfort (2019) Wildlife Crime and Animal Victims: Improving Access to Environmental Justice in Hong Kong, Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy, 22:3, 203-230. (DOI: 10.1080/13880292.2019.1677055)
A Andersson, H Tilley, W Lau, T Bonebrake, C Dingle (2019) Illuminating the legal wildlife trade. Conservation Biology, in review
A Andersson, L Gibson, DM Baker, S Wang, HN Leung, LM Chu, C Dingle (2019) Applying stable isotope analysis to detect laundering of yellow-crested cockatoos (Cacatua sulphurea) in wildlife trade, in prep
Y Sadovy de Mitcheson, A Andersson, A Hofford, CSW Law, LCY Hau, and D Pauly (2018). Out of control means off the menu: The case for ceasing consumption of luxury products from highly vulnerable species when international trade cannot be adequately controlled; shark fin as a case study. Marine Policy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2018.08.012.
L Gibson, A Hofford, D Dudgeon, Y Song, Y Chen, DM Baker, & A Andersson. (2018). Hong Kong’s delayed ivory ban endangers African elephants. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 16(7), 370-380.
A Andersson, and L Gibson, (2017). Missing teeth: Discordances in the trade of hippo ivory between Africa and Hong Kong. African Journal of Ecology, 00:1–9. (DOI:10.1111/aje.12441)
W Cheng, S Xing and TC Bonebrake, (2017). Recent Pangolin Seizures in China Reveal Priority Areas for Intervention. Conservation Letters. (DOI:10.1111/conl.12339)
L Gibson, DL Yong, (2017) Saving two birds with one stone: Solving the quandary of introduced, threatened species. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment,15(1): 35–41. (DOI: 10.1002/fee.1449)
S Rostro-García, JF Kamler, E Ash, GR Clements, L Gibson, AJ Lynam, R McEwing, H Naing, S Paglia, (2016) Endangered leopards: range collapse of the Indochinese leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri) in Southeast Asia. Biological Conservation, 201: 293-300. (DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.07.001)
FM Stein, JCY Wong, V Sheng, CSW Law, B Schroder, DM Baker, (2016) First genetic evidence of illegal trade in endangered European eel (Anguilla anguilla) from Europe to Asia. Conservation Genetics Resources, 8 (4): 539-539. (DOI: 10.1007/s12686-016-0576-1)
Y Sadovy de Mitcheson et al. Wildlife Crime: Is Hong Kong Doing Enough? (see link for pdf)
Y Sadovy de Mitcheson, (2016) Mainstreaming fish spawning aggregations into fishery management calls for a precautionary approach. BioScience, 66 (4): 295-306. (DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biw013)
ACJ Vincent, Y Sadovy de Mitcheson, SL Fowler, & S Lieberman, (2013) The role of CITES in the conservation of marine fishes subject to international trade. Fish and Fisheries, 15(4): 563-592. (DOI: 10.1111/faf.12035)
Y Sadovy de Mitcheson, MT Craig, AA Bertoncini, KE Carpenter, WL Cheung, JH Choat, AS Cornish, ST Fennessy, BP Ferreira, PC Heemstra, M Liu, RF Myers, DA Pollard, KL Rhodes, LA Rocha, BC Russell, MA Samoilys, & J Sanciangco, (2013) Fishing groupers towards extinction: a global assessment of threats and extinction risks in a billion dollar fishery. Fish and Fisheries, 14(2):119-136. (DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-2979.2011.00455.x)
SM Cheung, D Dudgeon, (2006) Quantifying the Asian turtle crisis: market surveys in southern China, 2000–2003. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 16: 751-770. (DOI: 10.1002/aqc.803)
Publications
Conservation Forensics Laboratory
The University of Hong Kong
providing evidence through science
Investigating crime requires the gathering of evidence for the legal system. In case of wildlife crime, trafficking and illegal trade, this evidence often comes from scientific experts such as biologists and ecologists.
The Conservation Forensics Laboratory (CFL) was founded in 2014 as a collaboration platform. We are a multidisciplinary team comprising of scientists and legal professionals from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) dedicated to:
contributing our expertise and skillset to support the efforts of Hong Kong's governing authorities and conservation organisations to combat illegal wildlife trade.
The role of the general public is crucial in stopping illegal wildlife trade and therefore we are also actively engaged in knowledge exchange; providing education on the conservation, health and legal issues of wildlife crime and trafficking.
The Team
(click on photos for more information)
Our work and successes
CFL members are trained in various tools and techniques for identifying the legality of seized species including isotopic and genetic work and other specialised molecular skills. We have contributed to many projects and investigations in support of wildlife trade law enforcement, including:
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Listing of endangered species reef fish species to CITES, for example the Humphead wrasse (Crassilabrus undulatus).
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Genetic testing of trafficked eels; which led to 40 arrests in the European Union.
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Field research and teaching programs in the Congo Basin (Africa).
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Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD, of the Hong Kong government) contract for genetic identification of shark fins and incense trees (Aquilaria sinensis).
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Investigation of fraud and mislabeling of seafood in Hong Kong.
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Rhino horn DNA analysis collaboration with WWF & University of Pretoria (South Africa).
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Market surveys of endangered fish, songbirds, parrots, reptiles, mammals and turtles.