CCJS Public Seminar Series: Enhancing the Recovery & Examination of Protected Birds Suspected of Being Shot

Join this free event hosted by Staffordshire University's Centre for Crime, Justice and Security

Human persecution is a major threat to wildlife such as red kites in England. It is therefore important that we determine the best practices and methods that may help us establish how such wildlife may have died. In particular, forensic practitioners and police are faced with additional challenges when it is suspected that protected species such as raptors have been shot.

Based on work the collaborative work conducted between Staffordshire University, Zoological Society of London and Natural England, this seminar aims to:

1. Share the means by which deceased birds are discovered, recovered and examined by veterinarians in England.

2. Showcase the latest approaches in the forensic analysis and examination of raptors suspected of being shot.

3. Suggest some improvements to future practice that may help us to more effectively analyse and interpret how the bird may have died.

In addition, we will share our experiences of academia-industry working and the impact of incorporating a short-term placement opportunity for a student to work on the project.

Speakers:

Dr Rachel Bolton-King, Associate Professor of Forensic Science

Dr Tammy Shadbolt

Georgina Gerard

Amber Blakemore

Biographies:

Dr Rachel Bolton-King is an Associate Professor of Forensic Science specialising in the investigation of firearm-related incidents in UK and international contexts. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the internationally recognised journal, Science & Justice, a Research Fellow at Aston University, the Industry Fellow within the Staffordshire Forensic Partnership and the Forensic Science & Investigation Theme Lead within the Centre of Crime, Justice & Security.

Dr Tammy Shadbolt is a wildlife veterinarian and post-doctoral research assistant at the Institute of Zoology (IOZ), Zoological Society of London (ZSL) working within the disease risk analysis and post-release health surveillance (DRAHS) team. She is also an honorary lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), London teaching on undergraduate and post-graduate programmes in wildlife biology and health.

Georgina Gerard is a wildlife health technician and post-graduate research assistant also working at IOZ, ZSL within the DRAHS team. She is involved in fieldwork, pathological work, research and teaching in wildlife biology and health.

Amber Blakemore was the full-time research assistant appointed to this collaborative project on a 3-month placement. She has recently graduated with a Distinction from Staffordshire University with an MSci in Forensic Investigation.

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