LISTEN: Deer DNA Helps Convict Highland Poacher

Deer DNA has been used to catch a Highland poacher for the first time in the UK.

James Kennedy pled guilty to illegally killing the animal on the Glenfinnan Estate last year.

He denied wrongdoing when first spotted in the area by police.

However, forensic tests by the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) lab proved it was shot unlawfully.

He's since been fined £100 and ordered to pay £70 compensation at Fort William Sheriff Court.

The SASA scientists established that there was a DNA profile match between the red deer remains found on the estate and the bloodstain in the accused’s vehicle.

This is the first time that DNA profiling has been used to detect deer poaching.

The use of animal DNA as evidence in wildlife crime investigations in Scotland was enabled by the establishment in 2011 of a dedicated Wildlife DNA Forensic (WDF) unit at the Scottish Government’s SASA laboratories.

In addition to handling wildlife crime casework, the unit also looks to develop new tests to meet the needs of investigators, particularly for priority areas such as poaching.

Sara Shaw, Procurator Fiscal, Wildlife and Environment said: "This investigation and prosecution was a result of excellent partnership working between SASA, Police Scotland and specialist prosecutors from the Wildlife and Environmental Crime Unit.

"This conviction represents a highly significant step forward in the fight against wildlife crime.

"Those who flout our wildlife law will be brought to account for their criminal activity."

Chief Inspector Colin Gough, Highland and Islands Division Wildlife Crime Co-ordinator said: "It is a ground-breaking step forward from a policing perspective to be able to employ new scientific developments to allow cases such as this to be solved.

Very often, poaching goes unreported and investigations can be complex and pro-longed so to be able to link the suspect with the crime should hopefully send out a strong message to those who partake in this devastating crime.

"Dr. Webster and everyone involved in the development of the deer DNA profiling are to be commended for their hard work and dedication.

"Police Scotland remains committed to investigating all reports of wildlife crime and bringing perpetrators to justice.

"In doing so we play our part in the multi-agency approach necessary to ensuring Scotland's land and wildlife thrives."

MFR Reporter Derek Ferguson speaks to Dr Lucy Webster about the groundbreaking case...

Dr Lucy Webster, of the WDF unit at SASA said: "Poaching is often a crime with no witnesses, but the use of DNA evidence from red deer to link the suspect to the crime provides the investigating officers with the evidence they need to proceed towards prosecution.

"This case clearly demonstrates the benefits of this approach, and also the rewards of partnership working to combat wildlife crime."

Professor Josephine Pemberton, University of Edinburgh said: "I am extremely pleased that our red deer DNA profiling system has been used to enforce a poaching case.

"Our involvement in the forensic validation of this test has given added value to our long term genetic research of Scottish deer populations."

Dr Helen Senn, WildGenes Laboratory, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).

"RZSS is delighted to have been able to support the development of the Scottish Government led red deer DNA forensic profiling system.

"The ability to enforce against deer poaching and other wildlife crime is crucial for effective land management and conservation within Scotland."