New fingerprint techniques could foil whale tooth poaching

Scientists from King’s College London and University College London have collaborated with imaging and fingerprint experts from the Metropolitan Police to improve techniques that may help prevent the poaching of ivory and whale teeth.

Previously, fingerprinting methods using conventional powders have been largely ineffective on porous materials like ivory. Using newly developed powders, fingerprint experts were able to lift some useable prints up to 28 days after they were deposited on rhino ivory, hippo teeth and sperm whale teeth.