DNA Fights Illegal Trade of Animals

The strange Matamata turtle has a lumpy shell and flat, triangular head like a round point shovel. There is an expanding pet market for these “alien turtles”. They sell for hundreds of dollars in developed countries; this leads to their illegal trade, which has increased 400% over five years. Difficulty enforcing bans on the trade is compounded by the existence of two distinct species. Recently, however, a Florida International University team has developed a portable DNA kit that not only helps law enforcement quickly identify freshwater turtles, but also ensures that recovered turtles are returned to the correct river basin.