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Determining Identification by Veterinary Forensics Zoology in a Paca
(Paca Cuniculus)
Tália Missen Tremori
1*, Ketlen Slowinski
1, Francisco Pizzolato Montanha¹, Noeme Sousa Rocha¹ and
Sérvio Túlio Jacinto Reis²
1School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Univ. Estadual Paulista - FMVZ - UNESP - Botucatu/SP - Brazil
2Regional Superintendence of Federal Police Department, Paraná State, Brazil
*Corresponding author: Tália Missen Tremori, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, FMVZ, UNESP - Botucatu/SP, Brazil, E-mail: talia_missen@hotmail.com
Introduction
The veterinary forensics uses knowledge of
technical and scientific character whose purpose is to
elucidate situations with criminal involvement. These
expertises are held in various areas involving
environmental protection. The examined cases are
majorly related to wildlife [1,2].
In Brazil, the Environmental Crimes Law,
Law No. 9605/98 deals with crimes committed against
wild animals, domestic or domesticated, native or
exotic. According to Article 32, performing an act of
abuse, mistreatment, injure or mutilate animals is a
crime penalized with the detention from three months
to one year, beyond the fine [3].
In crimes involving wild animals, species
identification is crucial due to extensive legislation of
national or international scope that defines legality of
hunting certain species considering their vulnerability,
and the greater or lesser risk of extinction. Wild species
make up ecosystem they inhabit naturally, being
normally abused by human disturbances such as
poaching, and becoming liable imbalances promoted
by changes in ecological relationships [4,5].
To check the extinction-level threat of certain
species, there are some references such as the National
List of Brazilian Threatened Species, the Ministry of
Environment ( MMA ), Annexes of the Convention on
Case Report Open Access
Abstract
In crimes involving wild animals, species identification is crucial due to extensive legislation of national or international scope that defines legality of hunting certain species considering their vulnerability and the greater or lesser risk of extinction. In Veterinary Medicine, many barriers are checked up in order to find individuality. In this case, methods of standardization are extremely important, which, in most cases, just aim to identify the species to form a bond with occurred facts. In this case identification begins by establishing animal species through zoology studies, macroscopic anatomical comparison with other animals, or by morphometric aspects. The animal referred by the Environmental Police to the College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology and Forensic Medicine, was identified as a paca (Cuniculus paca), species classified as lower risk of extinction by IUCN. Identification of wild animals involved in crimes is essential to punish an offense, and the zoology provides subsidies for such.
Keywords: Wild Animals; Forensic Veterinary Medicine; Zoology
Received August 8 2014; Accepted September 25 2014; Published October 1 2014
© 2014 Tália Missen Tremori et al; licensee Source Journals
This is an open access article is properly cited and distributed under the terms and conditions of creative commons attribution license which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium.
© 2014 Tália Missen Tremori et al; licensee Source Journals. This is an open access article is properly cited and distributed under the terms and conditions of creative commons attribution license which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium.
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International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the Red List of the
International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN).
All are related to national and international policy on
decision making to conserve biological diversity [6,7].
CITES is an important agreement for the conservation
of species, having 175 countries as signatories. In this
way, export, import and re-export of animals and
plants, and their parts and derivatives are regulated by
a system of issuing licenses and certificates when
meeting certain requirements [8].
IUCN is an international organization that,
among other tasks, monitors conservation status of
thousands of species on the planet. Likewise, it
maintains a list of classified species into threat
categories [9].
Identity can be defined as a set of properties,
characteristics or attributes by individualizing
something or someone, making it different from all
others by specific, individual, originating or acquired
signals. Individuality in human cases is essential when
coming from medical-legal expertise, which may result
in the identification, or simply, the exclusion of a
suspect [10].
Exam of identification can be divided into two
parts: forensic and judicial. For the establishment of
judicial identification, some scientific requisites must
be followed to make identification credible and
reliable. They are uniqueness, each object of expertise
should be unique; continuity, it always exists;
immutability, it cannot change over time; variability,
during the examination, it must have many patterns to
work and practicality, it must be something easy to be
obtained, searched and archived [11,12].
Molecular biology techniques such as DNA
analysis, performed by PCR ( Polymerase Chain
Reaction), and imaging, may not only contribute to the
process, but also assist the safety of identification
diagnose [13].
The post-mortem identification has as purpose
the study of material in various stages: quartered,
mangled, charred, macerated, putrefied, decomposing
in skeleton and skeletonized. Its goal always is
establishing identity. The inability to identify derives in
most cases to the lack of accurate data provided by the
family, and the lack of medical and dental records
[11,14].
Recognition is another aspect to be mentioned.
It can be understood as an empirical and subjective
identification without scientific rigor. This finding is
very susceptible to errors and failures, either because
of the psychological shock, by the condition of the
object submitted to expertise, or an unusual
environment [15].
Identification begins by establishing animal
species through zoology studies, macroscopic
anatomical comparison with other animals or by
morphometric aspects. After that, race, sex, age, height
and individual signals are documented. Individual
signals can be found as malformations, scars, tattoos,
sequels of fractures [16].
The use of earrings, rings or microchips is a
simpler way to identification. However, for a
medical-legal report, the correlation between the object of
expertise and the facts presented is necessary, in order
to protect investigator from any intent of fraud
throughout the judicial process, or even by any
questioning of other party [17].
In the matter of wild animals, situations faced
by veterinarians are very different, which can vary
from great groups of animal victims of trafficking and
smuggling, to animal victims of abuse, often found
dead. Sometimes, these cases arrive through
complaints, even with media influence [18].
In all possible cases, identification via
photographs is essential to determine animal status
once was found, or when arriving to the clinic. As
usual on human being, after taking a photo ID of the
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registration of any animal mark such as tattoo, earring,
rings, burns, scars, blemishes and pelage
characteristics. In reference to objects, or parts derived
from the animal, such as skin, carcass, bones, or others
related to animals, all should also be photographed and
described in order to have them individualized [1].
Then, a growing need for forensic research
and associated expertise exists, related to aspects such
as law, safety and animal health. The objective of this
study is to demonstrate the importance of identifying a
wild animal [19].
Report
Two parts of animals, supposedly wild, inside
plastic bags frozen at -20°C, were referred by the
Environmental Police to the College of Veterinary
Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP - Univ Estadual
Paulista, Botucatu, Department of Veterinary
Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology and
Forensic Medicine.
After thawing, the following descriptions of
the examined parts, called part 01 and part 02, were
made:
The part 01 was approximately 30 inches long,
weighing 2,350 kg, with no trace of internal organs
(viscera). The piece was sectioned in the medial plane
(longitudinal, dividing it into symmetrical parts), which
included integrally regions of the chest, abdomen and
pelvis on the right side. The portion was devoid of
forelimb and skull.
Part 01 had a hind limb, from the femur area
to the tibia. Likewise, a pairs of developed nipples
were observed on the thoracic and abdominal region,
which led to think the piece could come from a female
animal (Figure 1). Along the external view, fur mixture
traces were noted, mostly in tone from black to brown,
especially on the skin covering the final third of the
tibia (Figure 2). Moreover, seen as a whole, two pairs
of nipples in the region of the chest and groin were
appreciated. On the thorax external surface, three
visible perforations, possibly caused by firearm
projectiles, were noticed. Blood was present on them,
and their edges exhibit gunpowder residue. The
projectiles crossed superficial and deep muscular
layers, and caused complete rib fracture.
Figure 1: Part 01-right medial plane, 30 cm long,
coated with a rare dark skin, devoid of forelimb and
skull, with hindlimb from femur to tibia, pairs of
nipples, chest and abdominal region (arrows).
Figure 2: Fur traces inserted on final third of tibia skin
(arrow). Tone nuance, from black to brown, can be
noticed.
Part 02 measured approximately 15 inches
long, weighing 1,070 Kg The piece was sectioned in
the transverse plane (perpendicular to the symmetry
axis), at the thoracolumbar region, with absence of
internal organs. Anterior paws were present, from the
scapula, humerus, until ulnas. Whitish fur on the inner
© 2014 Tália Missen Tremori et al; licensee Source Journals. This is an open access article is properly cited and distributed under the terms and conditions of creative commons attribution license which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium.
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Figure 3: Part 02-One of the anterior paws. Whitish
fur can be seen on its inner face (arrow).
The right side of the chest area had several
perforations, which contained blood and its edges
exhibited gunpowder residue. A simple radiography on
the piece was performed. Radiopaque bodies
compatible with pictures of firearm projectiles, and a
fractured humerus were observed (Figure 4). After a
detailed analysis of lesions, 12 lead buckshots were
removed from different planes such as the skin and the
body musculature. According to the Brazilian
Cartridge Company - CBC, buckshot caliber is 7 ½,
with 2.38 mm of diameter. Having these findings, the
animal was identified as a paca (Cuniculus paca),
species classified as lower risk of extinction by IUCN.
About geographic distribution, the paca is widely
located from southern Mexico to eastern Paraguay,
northern Argentina and Uruguay. In Brazil, it can be
found in all states of the country [20].
Figure 4: A simple radiography on the piece.
Radiopaque bodies compatible with pictures of firearm projectiles (white arrow), and a fractured humerus (red arrow).
Discussion
The paca is a wild mammal of genus and
species Cuniculus paca. Considered the second largest
rodent, behind the capybara (Hydrochoerus
hydrochoeris), its habitat is commonly found in South
America, especially in Brazil. According Queirolo et
al. [20] the population is considered stable, often taken
as bushmeat. Despite easy adaptation, the paca prefers
environments with extensive vegetation, frequently
located near rivers and streams. The main characteristic
of this animal are a short bristling, whose hues range
from neutral brown to reddish one, and the whitish fur
arranged in the form of longitudinal strips throughout
the body. Moreover, their identification is made by
anatomy. In this case, the species in question
demonstrates long and narrow head, small ears, short
and strong legs, and four fingers. When adult, the paca
measures between 32 and 60 cm, from the skull base of
the tail, reaching 10 kg of body weight. In fact, these
terms describe the methods by which the body parts are
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particular species is reached. However, corpse
segments of alleged wild animals, referred by the
Environmental Police Service, were devoid of essential
structures such as the skull and paws, among others.
Nevertheless, by applying Comparative Anatomy, and
establishing suitable criteria, accurate identification
was possible. Moreover, the presence of the species
characteristics, as well as measures of length and
weight, helped to consider the wild animal as the paca
(Cuniculus paca). Besides anatomy features, other
procedures may be used to assist the identification
process, such as topography and molecular biology
techniques.
Conclusion
Identity and identification in crimes involving
wild animals are essential to punish an offense,
according to the country law where the animal belongs.
The use of animal zoology is critical to assist this
process.
Acknowledgement
CAPES.
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