Identification of mongoose (Genus: Herpestes) species from hair through band pattern studies using discriminate functional analysis (DFA) and microscopic examination Vivek Sahajpal a , S.P. Goyal a, ⁎, R. Raza b , R. Jayapal b a Wildlife Forensic laboratory, Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box#18, Dehradoon-248001, India b Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box#18, Dehradoon-248001, India abstract article info Article history: Received 17 May 2008 Received in revised form 21 August 2008 Accepted 22 September 2008 Keywords: Cuticle Medulla Cross sections Discriminate functional analysis Forensic India is home to seven species of mongoose (Herpestes sp). Mongooses are being poached primarily for their hair, which is used in the production of painting and shaving brushes. Prior to September 2002, mongooses were listed under Schedule-IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 (India). Indiscriminate poaching of the mongoose created an immediate threat to their survival and hence mongooses have now been placed under Schedule-II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act-1972 (India). In order to convict a person under this legislation, species identification of case related samples is necessary. Four species of mongoose i.e. H. edwardsii, H. smithii, H. palustris and H. urva were characterised by performing discriminate functional analysis (DFA) on measurements of their dorsal guard hair banding pattern and by microscopic hair characteristics (Cuticular, medullar and cross section). It was possible to distinguish between the four species studied, based on both these methods. © 2008 Forensic Science Society. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction India is one of the 12 identified mega biodiversity nations containing over 8% of the world's biological diversity [1]. Poaching of wild animals and illegal trade of their parts is one of the major threats to conservation planning in India [2]. Trade in wildlife parts and their products have become a massive business with high annual turnover rates. According to some estimates, the illegal trade in wildlife is probably the second largest illegal business in the World after drug trafficking [1,3]. One animal which has suffered from significant poaching in recent years in India is the mongoose (Herpestes sp.), whose hair is used for the production of painting and shaving brushes. Poaching of the mongoose has caused the status of the mongoose to be reclassified from schedule-IV to schedule-II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act-1972 (India) [4]. However, it is evident from the various seizures made by law enforcement agencies that the poaching of these animals is still a regular occurrence. The Wildlife Forensic laboratory of the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradoon has received numerous cases involving the use of mongoose hair. This has prompted the present study to characterise the species from hair. The value of using microscopic hair characteristics as a tool for the purpose of species identification has been established by previous work [5–7]. However very few forensic studies on hair identification of Indian wild species have been carried [8,9]. Science and Justice 49 (2009) 205–209 ⁎ Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 135 2640111 115x224; fax: +91 135 2640117. E-mail address: goyalsp@wii.gov.in (S.P. Goyal). Fig. 1. Bands considered in the study. 1355-0306/$ – see front matter © 2008 Forensic Science Society. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2008.09.002 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Science and Justice journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/scijus