Wildlife Forensics Lab

Snakes on a Plane
This image, culled from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, shows an x-ray of protected snakes seized from a passenger. Neme writes, "The high payoffs and low risks of wildlife trafficking attract a wide variety of criminals, ranging from petty lawbreakers to organized crime networks and sophisticated international terrorists. The officers see a range of smuggling techniques, like the simple non-declaration of animals and animal parts, hidden compartments in shipping containers, or, in more than one case, a specially-made vest carrying dozens of protected bird eggs."

• Investigating Animal Crimes
• More about Animal Investigators