THSE
04,25,1998 16:49
NO.18
P. 3
BACKGROUND NOTE
1.
The only clue we have to the background to this rather obscure question is a letter which Mr Dalyell has written to Mrs Bottomley seeking comments on a 'New Scientist' article about two new techniques of genetic fingerprinting which can be used to help identify the age and origins of CITES specimens, particularly elephant products.
2. The article, which does not mention fur or reptile skins, indicates that data resulting from this work were to be presented to the Lausanne CITES conference. In the event, the discussion at the conference on the scientific aspects of elephant conservation was overshadowed by the largely emotive arguments which dominated the debate, and there was no substantive discussion of the need for further research work of the kind described in the 'New Scientist' article. It is possible however that the matter may have been discussed in one of the numerous fringe meetings which were taking place throughout the Conference.
3. We have not seen any detailed reports on the results of this work, which is still at a fairly early developmental stage, but will study any information which may be forthcoming about the techniques in consultation with our scientific advisers. Reliable identification of the age and origins of ivory and ivory products is difficult at present, and any progress towards the development of a cheap, reliable and practical method of tracing the sources of ivory specimens would be of interest to CITES.
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