TRACE WILDLIFE FORENSICS NETWORK LTD

What TRACE WILDLIFE FORENSICS NETWORK LTD does

TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network Ltd is a UK-registered non-profit organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Edinburgh, dedicated to developing, disseminating, and implementing forensic science tools for wildlife conservation and law enforcement. The organization operates with approximately 15 staff across the UK, Africa, and Southeast Asia, and works directly with national wildlife authorities, government laboratories, and law enforcement agencies to build in-country forensic capacity. Its operational footprint spans 18 countries across Southern, East, Central, and West Africa, plus five Southeast Asian markets.

The organization's core product portfolio centers on wildlife DNA forensics for species identification and geographic origin tracing. Headline tools include LionLocalizer and Loxodonta Localizer — online platforms that match genetic sequences from seized lion and elephant parts (including ivory) against proprietary georeferenced reference databases — and PELTS, a portable, forensically validated mobile laboratory system deployed in partnership with UNODC across Africa and Southeast Asia. Complementing these are the Wildlife Crime Scene Guide for First Responders, a corresponding training manual, a £10 Wildlife DNA Sampling Kit for UK officers, and the Forensic Analysis Fund administered through the PAW Forensic Working Group. The organization has overseen the establishment of more than ten national wildlife DNA forensic laboratories since 2010 and publishes in peer-reviewed venues including Evolutionary Applications and Forensic Science International.

TRACE operates a non-commercial, grant-funded revenue model with no commercial pricing structure disclosed beyond nominal kit fees. Funding flows from a concentrated set of intergovernmental and sovereign donors — UNODC, UNDP, INTERPOL, CITES, IUCN, USAID, US State Department, UK Aid, European Commission, and GIZ — supplemented by strategic partnerships with ThermoFisher Scientific (lab supplies for LMICs), the African Wildlife Forensics Network, TRAFFIC, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Society for Wildlife Forensic Science. The go-to-market motion is direct enterprise engagement with governments and intergovernmental bodies rather than commercial sales, with services delivered through national ranger training institutions, mobile lab deployment, and institutional standard-operating-procedure development.

Name

TRACE WILDLIFE FORENSICS NETWORK LTD

Legal name

TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network

Website

https://tracenetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network is a UK-based non-profit that develops and disseminates wildlife DNA forensics tools — including the LionLocalizer, Loxodonta Localizer, and PELTS mobile laboratory — to national wildlife authorities and law enforcement agencies across 18 African and Southeast Asian countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Forensics Services

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Criminal Investigations & Forensics (Detectives, Crime Labs, CSI) (BPAIAGAI), Animal Cruelty Prevention, Investigation & Humane Law Enforcement (BPAGAIAG)

Keywords

• Wildlife forensics
• DNA species identification
• Wildlife law enforcement training
• Forensic laboratory capacity building
• Mobile forensic laboratory

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Non-profit funding and grants: TRACE was established in 2006 as a non-profit organisation. The organization's work is made possible through funding from various government and intergovernmental partners including UNODC, UNDP, IUCN, INTERPOL, CITES, USAID, US State Department, UK Aid, GiZ, and the European Commission. No commercial revenue model is described.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network promotes and develops forensic science tools, training, and laboratory capacity for wildlife conservation and law enforcement. Its core work covers end-to-end wildlife forensics support from crime scene to courtroom, including DNA-based species identification, mobile laboratory deployment (PELTS), geographic origin tracing tools (LionLocalizer, Loxodonta Localizer), crime scene training for first responders, and institutional capacity building for national wildlife authorities across Africa and Southeast Asia.

Product overview

TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network operates as a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting forensic science in wildlife conservation and law enforcement. The organization offers an integrated portfolio of services spanning from crime scene to courtroom, including the PELTS mobile laboratory system for field deployment, LionLocalizer and Loxodonta Localizer online genetic intelligence tools for geographic origin determination, wildlife crime scene training resources and guides, DNA sampling kits, and the Forensic Analysis Fund providing financial support for UK wildlife crime investigations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LionLocalizer: An online tool to provide intelligence into the possible geographic origin of any seized lion body parts using genetic sequences.
• Loxodonta Localizer
• PELTS (Portable Enforcement Laboratory for Testing Seizures)
• PAW UK Forensic Working Group

Products and services

• LionLocalizer

Quantifiable outcome

• Established more than 10 national wildlife DNA forensic laboratories in Africa and Asia since 2010
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.

• ThermoFisher ScientificcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRACE and ThermoFisher Scientific partnered to provide the global wildlife DNA forensics community with significant discounts on lab equipment and reagents through ThermoFisher's Global Health Equality Programme. The offer is available to forensic laboratories in Lower or Middle Income Countries (LMICs) that conduct casework analysis for wildlife law enforcement.
• UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner that supports TRACE's work, including funding the PELTS mobile laboratory system available for deployment throughout Africa and Southeast Asia.
• African Wildlife Forensics Network (AWFN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRACE works closely with AWFN at international level to build capacity and coordinate programmes. AWFN and TRACE co-developed the Wildlife Crime Scene Guide for First Responders.
• INTERPOLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational criminal police organisation partner working with TRACE on wildlife forensics coordination.
• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCITES partner supporting TRACE's work in wildlife forensics from crime scene to courtroom.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUCN supports TRACE's work through standards setting and programme coordination.
• TRAFFICmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, is a key partner that helps build capacity and coordinate wildlife forensics programmes.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCS partners with TRACE on wildlife crime prevention programmes.
• Wildlife Crime PreventionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation focused on wildlife crime prevention working with TRACE.
• Lilongwe Wildlife TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMalawi-based wildlife trust partner in TRACE's work.
• Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI)majorTechnology or IntegrationForensic science institute partner in TRACE's international network.
• Society for Wildlife Forensic Science (SWFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWFS develops the field of wildlife forensic science and sets standards. TRACE works with SWFS at international level to build capacity and coordinate programmes.
• PAW Forensic Working Group (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime UK Forensic Working Group established in 1996, with membership from forensic science community, government departments, Police, UK Border Force and NGOs. TRACE hosts and supports this group.
• Department of National Parks and Wildlife - MalawicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational wildlife authority partner in country where TRACE promotes and facilitates institutionalisation of forensics techniques.
• Department of National Parks and Wildlife - ZambiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational wildlife authority partner in country where TRACE promotes and facilitates institutionalisation of forensics techniques.
• Department of Wildlife and National Parks - BotswanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational wildlife authority partner in country where TRACE promotes and facilitates institutionalisation of forensics techniques.
• Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism - NamibiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry partner in country where TRACE promotes and facilitates institutionalisation of forensics techniques.
• Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational parks and wildlife management authority partner.
• South African National Biodiversity InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSANBI is a biodiversity institute partner supporting TRACE's work.
• Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux - GaboncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGabon's national parks agency partner.
• Ministry of Forests and Wildlife - CamerooncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry partner in Cameroon.
• University of ZambiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner institution supporting wildlife forensics development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• African Wildlife Forensics Network (AWFN): Regional wildlife forensics network coordinating capacity across Africa. Directly comparable to TRACE in mission (wildlife DNA forensics, training, lab development), operating in overlapping geographies, and co-developing resources such as the Wildlife Crime Scene Guide.
• Society for Wildlife Forensic Science (SWFS): International professional society that develops standards and coordinates the wildlife forensic science field. Directly comparable in mandate (standards-setting, capacity-building, scientific coordination) and overlapping membership with TRACE.
• TRAFFIC: The wildlife trade monitoring network working on illegal trade in wild animals and plants. Directly comparable in mission (combating wildlife crime, supporting enforcement agencies) and overlapping geographies and partner network.
• USFWS National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory: The US government's only full-service wildlife forensic laboratory, performing species identification and geographic origin work. Directly comparable in core capability (wildlife DNA forensics) but with US federal government scope rather than international remit.

Broad incumbents

• INTERPOL Environmental Security Sub-Directorate: The international police organisation's environmental crime unit coordinating cross-border wildlife trafficking investigations. Comparable in mandate (wildlife crime enforcement coordination) but with a broader law-enforcement portfolio and intergovernmental remit.
• UNODC Wildlife Crime Programme: The UN Office on Drugs and Crime programme tackling wildlife and forest crime globally, including funding the PELTS mobile lab with TRACE. Comparable in mandate (wildlife crime capacity-building) but operates as an intergovernmental body rather than a non-profit.
• CITES Secretariat: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species secretariat setting international wildlife trade standards. Comparable in standards-setting and government-facing capacity-building role, but with treaty rather than operational focus.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): Major international conservation NGO with field programmes in wildlife crime hotspots. Comparable in conservation mandate and partner status with TRACE, but operates as a much larger, broader conservation organisation.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Largest international conservation organisation with extensive wildlife crime programmes. Comparable in conservation mission and donor base competition, but operates across far broader biodiversity, climate, and policy mandates.

Emerging players

• UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory: University-based laboratory providing wildlife and forensic genetics services including species identification. Comparable in core DNA forensics capability but operates as a fee-for-service academic lab rather than a non-profit capacity-builder.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trace-wildlife-forensics-network-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TRACE WILDLIFE FORENSICS NETWORK LTD