Case Explained: World first: Lion DNA forensics secures historic conviction in Zimbabwe – Legal Perspective

For the first time anywhere in the world, DNA forensics has been used to secure a criminal conviction for the illegal killing and trafficking of an individual lion — marking a major breakthrough in the global fight against wildlife crime.

The landmark case in Zimbabwe saw trafficked lion parts genetically matched to a known individual animal, providing prosecutors with irrefutable scientific evidence and leading to prison sentences for those responsible.

“This breakthrough represents more than scientific achievement; it embodies our determination to protect biodiversity for future generations to come.” — Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust

The conviction follows the illegal snaring and killing of a male lion near Victoria Falls in 2024 — a crime that, like many wildlife trafficking cases, initially appeared difficult to prove.

While the lion’s radio collar helped locate the remains, it was cutting-edge forensic science that ultimately secured the conviction.

From crime scene to courtroom — powered by science

After suspects were arrested and lion claws and body parts were seized, investigators faced a familiar legal challenge: possession of wildlife parts alone does not always prove a crime. Without clear evidence linking the items to a specific illegally killed animal, cases often collapse.

This time, the outcome was different.

Scientists at the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust laboratory, working with support from TRACE and TRAFFIC, applied a newly developed genetic profiling technique to generate a full DNA profile from the seized lion parts. That profile was matched exactly to genetic material from the poached lion and independently verified against a national genetic database.

It was the first time lion DNA analysis had ever been used in a criminal investigation to identify the individual lion that was the victim of illegal killing.

The genetic evidence was presented in court and accepted by prosecutors, resulting in all suspects receiving 24-month prison sentences — the world’s first conviction based on forensics from an individual lion.

“This demonstrates how the combination of academic training, research and development and forensic casework, all funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, can deliver wildlife law enforcement in Zimbabwe.” — Professor Rob Ogden, Director, TRACE

A step change for wildlife law enforcement

Alongside providing support for Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, TRACE and TRAFFIC have supported the wider enforcement effort, thanks to funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. This has helped to strengthen the chain from crime scene to courtroom through training of frontline officers, investigators and prosecutors, ensuring forensic evidence could be properly collected, handled and presented in court.

“This conviction is far more than a single success — it represents a step change in how wildlife crime can be investigated and prosecuted. Thanks to sustained support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, countries now have the forensic capability to bring solid, science-based evidence into court — strengthening protection for lions and reinforcing wildlife law enforcement across Africa.” — Richard Scobey, Executive Director, TRAFFIC

Together, the case demonstrates what becomes possible when science, enforcement and long-term investment come together — setting a powerful precedent for tackling organised wildlife crime across Africa and beyond.

Years in the making

The breakthrough was made possible through years of sustained investment in wildlife forensic capacity. Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery has helped equip laboratories, train scientists, and develop the genetic tools needed to identify individual lions with high precision.

The lead scientist behind the technique developed the lion SNP DNA profiling method during postgraduate research at the University of Edinburgh, before applying it in real-world criminal investigations in Zimbabwe.

“Players of the Postcode Lottery can take pride in the impact that their funding is having for TRAFFIC and TRACE. Over the past eight years, £2.1 million in support has helped strengthen wildlife forensics in Zimbabwe and beyond. This has now contributed to a world first – the forensic conviction of traffickers involved in the killing of a specific lion.” — Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery

Why this matters

Lions are among the most trafficked big cats in the world, with body parts traded for ornaments, jewellery and traditional uses. Until now, prosecutions have often relied on circumstantial evidence. This case shows that wildlife crime can be investigated with the same forensic rigour applied to human criminal cases — transforming how justice can be delivered for iconic and threatened species.

This world-first conviction signals a new era in the fight against wildlife trafficking — one where science makes evasion far harder and accountability for poaching iconic species like lions far more likely.