Cindy Harper

Veterinary Genetics Laboratory

Faculty of Veterinary Science

University of Pretoria

Onderstepoort

RhODIS® Rhino DNA Index System DNA Technology as a tool to support rhino

poaching investigations and horn traceability

• Over 15 000 individuals on database • Rhino range states that participate in RhODIS; South Africa – private and state Namibia (All routine and forensic cases – training courses provided) Kenya (MOU in place – forensic and routine samples and training courses) Swaziland (forensic cases) Botswana Malawi (forensic and routine samples) Zimbabwe (agreement with conservancies) Zambia Uganda

RhODIS: Where are we?

Sudan 1938

Number of forensic cases on RhODIS

> 600 tools

Sudan 1938

Number of RhODIS kits produced and distributed; 23 000

Number of people trained; >300

eRhODIS™: electronic data collection

• VGL developed app to collect field data with kits

3 apps;

Forensic – poaching case

Routine – live rhino sampling

Stockpile – horn stockpiles

eRhODIS: Stockpile App

The Horn Kit

Taking the DNA sample

Microchip Number

Using a blue-tooth enabled microchip scanner to scan the horn after the microchip is inserted

Microchip number added

Enter Kit Number

Scan Barcode

Add sample bottle and take image of sealed bag

Take and enter horn measurements

Weigh the horn: Blue-tooth enabled scale

Take series of photos using the tablet: photos hashed and stored on the database

Database access to authorised people

Database information

Sample / DNA number Horn details Permit details Owner details Device details Microchip details ZA Number (autogenerated) Image hashes Images

Pdf generated and emailed to submitter

Summary

• System very efficient: KZN stockpile 100 horns / day • All data immediately added to database – no re-

typing • VGL cannot afford data entry personnel – number of

data entry mistakes if done manually too high • Database secure • Data can be exported in any format • Discussions with DEA IT to establish transfer to

EDMS • Total submissions using eRhODIS since November

2013: >3000 • Total stockpile submissions: >2000 (mainly KZN)