Below is an example of the steps required to correctly sample
the DNA of an animal in the field. While this animal is under
sedation, the same steps can be used for harvested or captured
After the Rhino was completely sedated, our team moved in
quickly. We took a blood sample from a vein in the ear. The blood
was then applied to the FTA card.
Using a q-tip, the blood is evenly spread across the FTA
For this particular rhino, we micro chipped its horn and neck
hump; the dark spot on the rhino's neck is where one of the
microchips was implanted. Microchips have been implemented by game
ranchers to help fight against rhino poaching and to help identify
animals/animal parts if and when poaching occurs.
A successful DNA sample taken from a living rhino in about 1
Getting a 2nd source of DNA from an animal is important for
reference. The tail hairs are the easiest to access and generally
produce excellent DNA samples.
I use pliers to remove 20+ tail hairs from the rhino, and will
store them in the yellow coin envelope.
The white tips on those hairs represent the hair follicles,
which hold the animal's DNA. Once in the coin envelope they will
dry, and stay preserved for future DNA sampling.
The process for taking a tail hair sample is less than a