Genomic forensics track wildlife trade

Researchers can build genomic reference maps from museum specimens plus low‑quality seizure samples to assign trafficked animals to precise source regions. Applied to pangolins, this approach identified poaching hot spots (e.g., southwest Myanmar, Cameroon) and showed domestic markets feed the same sourcing networks used by international traffickers. — Genomic forensics reframes wildlife trafficking from anecdote to traceable supply‑chain problem, enabling targeted enforcement, international cooperation, and data‑driven conservation policy.