Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy ministers
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    Decorative image

    Australian Energy Employment Report survey

    Share insights to help the energy workforce plan for the future

    Find out more

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Our science strategy
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Decorative image

    Juukan Gorge response

    Read the Australian Government's response to the destruction at Juukan Gorge and the recommendations

    Read the response

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About us
  3. News and media
  4. World leading scientific research using 3D X-ray technology for the detection of illegal wildlife trafficking

Back to news - AWE

  • Back to news

World leading scientific research using 3D X-ray technology for the detection of illegal wildlife trafficking

  • Media release
  • Wildlife trade
23 September 2022

The ‘Detecting illegal wildlife trafficking via real time tomography 3D x-ray imaging and automated algorithms’ paper by Pirotta et al. published yesterday is the first to document the use of 3D x-ray CT scanning technology for the use of wildlife protection in the scientific literature.

This research is a result of detection and conservation agencies; Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Rapiscan Systems and the Taronga Conservation Society Australia joining forces to combat the illegal smuggling of wildlife through mail and traveller luggage pathways.

Deputy Secretary of the Biosecurity and Compliance group at DAFF, Chris Locke, and acting Assistant Secretary for Environment Compliance at DCCEEW, Sam Hush said the paper published in the Frontiers in Conservation Science Human-Wildlife Interactions Journal provided the reported results for three wildlife classes (i.e. lizards, birds and fish) within 3D x-ray CT security scan images.

“Illegal wildlife trafficking poses a significant biosecurity risk to Australia as it could introduce pests and diseases that could impact on the environment, as well as human and animal health,” Dr Locke said.

“This paper demonstrates the boundless potential the 3D x-ray algorithm has in helping to stop exotic wildlife from being trafficked, protecting Australia’s agricultural industries and unique natural environment from exotic pests and diseases.

“This innovative technology is an invaluable complementary platform to our existing biosecurity and wildlife detection tools at Australian international borders, with potential worldwide applications in the future.”

Mr Hush said wildlife trafficking was also detrimental to Australia’s biodiversity.

“Taking animals from the wild poses risks to the species’ conservation, local populations, habitats and ecosystems, and stopping wildlife from being trafficked into Australia protects our unique natural environment from exotic pests and diseases,” Mr Hush said.

“It is also extremely cruel. Smuggled animals often suffer stress, dehydration or starvation and many die during transit.

“We have been working with DAFF to test and validate the wildlife 3D x-ray and algorithms which have both proven to be very effective and can help lead to a number of important detections.”

DAFF, DCCEEW, Rapiscan Systems and the Taronga Conservation Society Australia continue to work together to detect illegal wildlife trafficking at international frontlines.

Paper citation: Pirotta V, Shen K, Liu S, Phan H, O’Brien JK, Meagher P, Mitchell J, Willis J and Morton E (2022) Detecting illegal wildlife trafficking via real time tomography 3D X-ray imaging and automated algorithms. Front. Conserv. Sci. 3:757950. doi: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.757950

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Copy link

Contact us

Climate change and energy:

dcceewmedia@industry.gov.au

Environment and water:

media@environment.gov.au

(61 2) 6275 9880

Related

Lizard

Convicted wildlife trafficker deported after serving term of imprisonment

  • Media release
  • Compliance
08 April 2022

Charges follow investigation into illegal trade of Australian native lizards

  • Media release
  • Compliance
07 January 2022

Sentence for reptile smuggler

  • Media release
  • Compliance
30 July 2021
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 23 September 2022

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.