Loxodonta Localizer: A Software Tool for Inferring the Provenance of African Elephants and Their Ivory Using...

Area of Science:

• Conservation genetics
• Wildlife forensics
• Population genetics

Background:

• Illegal hunting is a primary threat to African elephants, with poaching exceeding natural mortality rates.
• Genetic analysis of confiscated ivory aids in tracing illegal trade routes and identifying source populations.
• Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) offers a viable marker for geographic origin due to female elephant philopatry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Loxodonta Localizer (LL), an interactive software tool for determining the provenance of confiscated ivory.
• To utilize a database of mtDNA sequences for rapid geographic assignment of elephant populations.
• To aid conservation efforts by identifying poaching hotspots.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Loxodonta Localizer (LL) software (www.loxodontalocalizer.org).
• Compilation of a database of mtDNA sequences from published studies.
• Analysis of a 316 bp mtDNA control region sequence from ivory samples.
• Querying the database to generate a list of similar haplotypes and their geographic origins.

Main Results:

• The LL software successfully lists haplotypes from 1917 African elephants across 24 countries, sorted by similarity.
• Geographic locations associated with specific haplotypes are visualized on a map.
• The tool demonstrates utility in identifying origins from single localities and countries with varying sampling densities.
• Rapid assessment of confiscated ivory sources is achievable within days.

Conclusions:

• The Loxodonta Localizer provides a rapid, accessible method for assessing the geographic origin of confiscated ivory using mtDNA.
• This tool can significantly enhance efforts to combat illegal elephant hunting by identifying targeted populations.
• The LL supports conservation strategies by enabling timely identification of poaching trends and source regions.