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bleeding after three to five days. During necropsy, haemorrhages from mouth, nose and other openings may be present, as well as sometimes massive generalized internal haemorrhages into body cavities or subcutaneous or muscular haematomas. Most tissues will exhibit mild to severe pallor. 3.2.2.3.2.2.2 Strychnine Although forbidden for use as a rodenticide in many countries, Strychnine has been used for intentional oral poisoning albeit its bitter taste. Since inhibiting the release of certain neurotransmitters in the spinal cord, ingestion of strychnine rapidly leads to muscle spasms and convulsions, fatal respiratory arrest may ensue. Usually, no specific lesions are found during necropsy. 3.2.2.3.2.2.3 Zinc/Aluminium phosphide Known as “Giftweizen” in German speaking countries, phosphides are converted to phosphine gas after oral intake by the acid environment in the stomach. Phosphine gas interferes with cellular functions thereby damaging cells, especially in the heart, liver, kidney and brain. A garlicky smell may be noted during necropsy that should be performed in a well ventilated room since inhalation of the gas is toxic to humans. Lesions found during necropsy are mostly 38 non- specific and include pulmonary edema and hyperaemia of the gastrointestinal tract. Histological lesions may include interstitial edema, congestion and cellular degeneration. Tissues for toxicological analysis must be taken as soon as possible and stored in airtight and shatter-proof containers as phosphine gas is very volatile. 3.2.2.3.2.3 Lead Lead is a toxic heavy metal that unfortunately is still widely used in ammunition. Intoxication of wildlife with lead may occur in various ways: • Non-lethal gunshot residues in the body of an animal that was shot at: May lead to protracted resorption of the lead and chronic lead intoxication depending on the tissue where residues are located. • Ingestion of spent lead shots or lost lead sinkers for fishing purposes by geese, ducks and swans: Lead particles will be grinded in gizzard and resorbed leading to protracted lead intoxication. • Ingestion of shot animals or their bowels with lead-ammunition particles in the carcass by raptors or scavengers: High pH value in their stomach will dissolve lead leading to resorption and subsequent intoxication. Pathological findings in lead intoxication include broken feathers on wingtips due to dragging of wings; calluses on skin of legs due to immobility; anaemia; poor body condition, greenish faeces; diarrhoea and inclusion bodies in cell-nuclei of kidney seen in histopathology. As with other poisons, however, these findings are not confirmative and subsequent toxicological analyses are essential. 39 4 BASICS IN WILDLIFE CRIME INVESTIGATIONS 4.1 General Recommendations As mentioned before, wildlife crime investigations can easily become complex because of the many stakeholders, public authorities and scientific personnel (and their sometimes varying approaches and responsibilities) involved. It is therefore of great importance to establish working relationships with all institutions and authorities that may be involved. 4.1.1 What NOT to do Just a reminder of some things that must NOT be done: - “Just pick up” the carcass at the crime site - No crime scene investigation - No search of surroundings - Wearing no PPE during recovery of carcass - Freezing the carcass - Improper or inaccurate labelling - Improper transport and storage - No necropsy - No ancillary testing as necessary - Imprecise or inaccurate reports - Lack of communication between authorities, laboratories and stakeholders involved - Dissemination of preliminary conjectures to public and/or press 4.1.2 Choosing a laboratory in wildlife forensic investigations Seeking and establishing potential collaborations of the investigation unit with respective forensic laboratories (regardless of specialization) should be accomplished well ahead of a forensic investigation. Any appointed forensic laboratories must meet several criteria. These include experience in forensic analyses, protocols for the respective investigations, packaging and transportation. 40 The methods used by a laboratory in a forensic investigation must be approved, standardised, scientifically sound and reproducible in order to stand in court. Further, the laboratory should be aware of the scheme of the chain of custody. Last but not least, the approximate costs of the respective analyses should be known in advance and prior approval of coverage of the cost by the lead investigator and/or prosecutor should be obtained. In any case, the respective laboratory should be contacted in advance of a specific investigation to assure correct packaging and transportation and appropriate sample size needed for proper and diagnostically conclusive analyses. The “first responding” laboratory must be a distinct veterinary pathology laboratory that also should have the possibility for radiography. Further details on the respective laboratories and how to find them are given in the section “Laboratory Investigations in Suspected Wildlife Crime Cases”. 4.2 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) When handling a carcass or a piece of bait, personal protective equipment must be worn all time since a zoonotic disease (one that may spill over from animals to humans) cannot be ruled out! Further, during the process of decomposition, toxin-producing bacteria may be involved that pose risks for the handler of the carcass. Further still, some of the substances that are used for poisoning of wildlife are extremely toxic to humans as well. While the technicians in laboratories will be trained in the handling of potentially hazardous material and the usage of the respective PPE, other personnel involved in wildlife crime cases (e.g. police officers at crime site) may be unaware of it. The minimum equipment that should be donned during handling and recovery of the carcass include: - Disposable latex gloves (in some cases double gloving to prevent cross contamination of samples) - (Disposable) coverall - Respirator mask, especially when working in a dusty environment to prevent inhalation of potentially contaminated dust 41 Figure