Studies on Hair of Some Wild Animals for Species Identification as an Aid to Wildlife Forensics

Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat, Awadh Bihari Shrivastav, Aijaz Ahmad Dar, Syed Wasim Bari

Veterinary Assistant Surgeon at Animal Husbandry Department kashmir (J&K) India. Director Centre for Wildlife Forensic and Health Jabalpur (M.P) India. Area Manager Uttra Poultry feeds and Phenix Poultry(J&K) India. PG Scholar at SKUAST Jammu, India

Corresponding author email: bhatmushtaq1@gmail.com

Abstract :

Hair is the mammalian epidermal exoskeleton and having distinctive specialized anatomic structure that consists of cells which are placed in three concentric layers viz. cuticle, cortex and medulla. The configuration of hair varies considerably from species to species and this can be used to identify a particular species by implementing various methods of hair analysis. Wildlife forensic is a relatively new method of law enforcement. The aim of wildlife forensic is to provide information for the conviction of offenders and deter their criminal acts. Microscopic features of hair of wild animals namely lion (Panthera leo), Stripped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and chinkara (Gazella bennettii) were studied. Four representative hair samples from different body regions (neck, back, abdomen and tail) were collected from four different animals of each species. Hence, 320 hair samples were studied. The microscopic studies revealed difference in patterns of medullar cells, their arrangements, medullar margins and thickness of cortex. Cloisonné pattern of medullar configuration was observed in chinkara. Nilgai revealed multicellular composition while sloth bear showed filled pattern. Lion and hyena exhibited a typical medullary configuration and had straight medullar margins. However, nilgai and chinkara showed scalloped margins. The cuticular scale patterns of hyena, sloth bear and nilgai hairs were transversely positioned, rippled margins with irregular wavy pattern and scales placed at close distance. While lion scales were transversely positioned, in regular wavy pattern with smooth margins and scales closely placed. Chinkara showed transversely positioned, regular wavy pattern, smooth margins and distantly placed scales. Cross-section of hairs shield showed oval in lion and nilgai but oblong in hyena whereas circular in sloth bear. Dumbbell shaped cross section was observed chinkara The present study showed that hair is one of the important tools for species identification. However, a single hair analysis parameter cannot be a confirmative proof for identification of a species. Therefore, a combination of parameters like, medullary configuration, cuticular scale pattern and cross section of hair can be used for species identification.