A vadvilág védelme és a vadászat tisztaságának megőrzése igazságügyi genetikai módszerekkel hazai vadászható kérődző fajokban

Abstract

The trophy animals living in Hungary hold significant cultural and economic value. Among them, large species such as the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), European mouflon (Ovis aries musimon), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and fallow deer (Dama dama) are particularly noteworthy, as the trophies judged in Hungary from these species are regarded as outstanding worldwide. However, due to the high value of both trophies and game meat, these animals have become prime targets for poaching and other illegal activities. Proving such violations, however, is often extremely difficult, since not only the identity of the perpetrator but even the occurrence of the crime itself may be questioned. In cases where suspects can only be linked to the scene through morphologically unrecognizable traces (such as cut meat, blood stains, or hair), genetic testing can provide valuable support. Depending on the research question, different genetic markers are required. In some instances, sex determination is sufficient, while in others, species or even individual identification is necessary. The aim of my research was to develop methods that advance forensic investigations for the four local trophy species mentioned above. Sex and species identification techniques were developed for the three antlered species, and both the mitochondrial control region and a range of nuclear microsatellites were tested across all four species. The genetic composition of each species reflects the historical factors shaping their populations, including the ice age and subsequent expansion, as well as human-mediated recolonisation and overhunting. AmelogeninX/Y and SRY markers proved effective for sex determination, while the cytochrome B marker was successfully applied for species identification. The mitochondrial control region did not prove suitable for population-level identification, but it may still be valuable for exclusion-based studies in European roe deer, red deer, and fallow deer, even though, like other populations, fallow deer in Hungary display low haplotype diversity. For individual identification, the DeerPlex and STRoe deer panels were effective in local red deer and roe deer populations. and in fallow deer, 14 polymorphic markers were selected from 99 tetramer microsatellites by the end of testing. In contrast, the European mouflon showed only a single control region haplotype and three polymorphic microsatellites with low heterozygosity. For this species, more extensive sampling and additional markers will be necessary. Overall, the research goals were achieved for three out of four species, and the results will support future judicial investigations including wildlife cases in Hungary.