pet trade

To spot wild-caught birds in pet trade, researchers zoom into isotopic detail
White birds nesting in the hallow of a tree.

Cockatoos nest in tree cavities, many of which are found in the urban parks in Hong Kong’s city centre. (Photo courtesy of Astrid Andersson)

Jansen Baier
George Washington University
Researchers from Hong Kong University have developed a forensic tool that could help both officials and pet buyers know the truth about an animal’s origins.