DNA tracks origin of seized ivory (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

A trail of DNA has helped investigators trace the biggest ever consignment of contraband ivory seized since 1989 to savannah elephants in Zambia.

Scientists extracted DNA from 37 tusks recovered from the shipment, which was seized in Singapore in June 2002.

They compared this data against a continent-wide map showing genetic differences and similarities between African elephants.

Details appear in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.

The 2002 seizure in Singapore consisted of 532 tusks packed in a 20ft container that had been shipped to the Far East from Malawi in south-east Africa.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6397825.stm

That's at least 266 dead elephants. Sad story.