Kerala’s captive jumbos get genetic IDs-Move could help solve wildlife crime cases involving poaching and illegal trade

• DNA profiling may be a contentious issue among humans, but for Kerala’s captive elephants, it’s a done deal.
• In a first for India, every one of Kerala’s captive elephants now has a unique DNA-based genetic ID.
• Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), which was given the task of DNA fingerprinting the elephants, handed over the DNA database, prototypes of Unique Identification Cards, and a study report to the Forest Department
• Captive elephants are those that have been captured from the wild and used by humans.
• The Forest Department provided blood samples of captive elephants from across the State to the RGCB for DNA fingerprinting.
• The method is a forensic technique that makes it possible to identify individuals — people or animals — based on unique DNA characteristics called micro-satellites (DNA portions that occur repeatedly), much like fingerprints.
• Unlike the microchip-based ID used so far, DNA fingerprinting provides a unique identity and is more fool-proof.

The Hindu