Veterinary Forensic Pathology

Injury assessment of nonhuman subjects may be performed for a variety of reasons, most often in a forensic setting to prove or disprove human activity. In Adelaide, South Australia, the killing of several dolphins from nearby waterways prompted the formation of a multidisciplinary Dolphin Trauma Group, among whose aims was the performance of rapid biological and forensic assessments of dead local dolphins. Necropsy and wound evaluation by group members utilizing standard forensic techniques aimed at determining as quickly as possible causes of death, whether injuries were inflicted ante- or postmortem, whether injuries were responsible for, or had contributed to, the fatal episode, and whether human intervention was responsible for the wounds. Estimation of the type and dimensions of possible weapons was also undertaken, as well as attempts to determine possible time frames for the injuries. This information was then passed on to investigating officers. A series of necropsy findings in seven dolphins investigated by the group (four Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, one southern right whale dolphin, one short-beaked common dolphin, and one common bottlenose dolphin) is described in this chapter. Two deaths were caused by exsanguination from stabbing/spearing, two to the sequelae of entanglement with fishing gear, one to blunt craniocerebral trauma from a boat propeller injury, one to probable sepsis, and one remained undetermined. All cases had extensive histological assessment of tissues with retention of blood and tissues for future toxicological screening if required. Examination of the brain is undertaken by a neuropathologist when tissues are not putrefied. Blood spots are signed and sealed and transferred to Forensic Science South Australia for storage in case comparisons are subsequently required with blood and tissue on possible weapons. In this way, each dolphin has an extensive forensic evaluation to provide as much usable information to courts and prosecutors if legal proceedings are ever undertaken.The skeletons and life history samples are held in the collections of the South Australian Museum.