Africa on his mind: A&M professor wants DNA record of huntable species

James Derr remembers sitting in his office nearly 20 years ago when a professor recommended a radical proposal for a grant from the National Science Foundation.

The idea was to study North American bison under the label of conservation biology, even though the bison were not endangered at the time and every other grant being proposed focused on species that were nearly extinct. The proposal intended to find out why bison experienced a resurgence after near-extinction in the late 1800s.

"[The professor] said, 'If we can understand what made bison successful in their recovery 100 years ago, we can use it as a model and apply that to wildlife species, livestock or any other animal when they have that problem in the future,'" said Derr, a professor at Texas A&M's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. "It was an outstanding idea."

Over the next two decades, Derr became an expert on bison. He now possesses the largest DNA sample collection in the world.

Recently, however, Derr has shifted his focus to Africa -- home of the most diverse population of wildlife species on the globe.

"If we're going to do something here that is going to make a real difference -- I'm talking world-shifting -- then we're going to have to do something big [in Africa]," Derr said.

It didn't take long for him to find his "world-shifting" idea.

During the bison studies, while Derr and his team developed new DNA-collection technology, he realized the potential of a DNA catalogue of huntable species in Africa.

"We are trying to ensure healthy, sustainable wildlife populations for forever; that's the whole point," Derr said.

With at least five African professional hunting organizations and three safari clubs partnering with Derr, efforts are under way without the usual funding sources.

"Not only have the organizations supported the project with funding, but also private individuals [have contributed]," Derr said. "We're talking tens of thousands of dollars to fund this because they see the value of this project. No one else is doing anything like this."

The funds go toward paying for the DNA collection kits that Derr distributes on trips to Africa. The kit uses an FTA card, which Derr and his team developed during the bison studies. The card allows a blood sample to be taken and stored without refrigeration while still maintaining the integrity of the sample.

Each kit contains enough materials to collect high-quality DNA samples from 100 animals -- including blood, hair and measurements observed by the hunter -- and costs $400.

The concept of linking hunters who depend on the wildlife and safari-goers who have money to support its protection has proved very successful, Derr said.

"It's privately funded from individuals or organizations," Derr said. "No funding has come from any public source, not a dime."

When Derr arrives with the kits, he said, he is swarmed by excited hunters.

"Teaching professional hunters how to collect the samples was nothing," Derr said. "Who is going to be more motivated to protect a wildlife species than people who live in the country and make a living off the wildlife?"

His goals for Africa continue to expand. He's aiming for an online barcode registry of African species' DNA.

"There's over 100 huntable species in Africa, and right now there's no really good way to identify [part of an animal] using forensic technologies to prove what species it came from," Derr said.

The barcode registry project Derr proposed to Safari Club International is expected to be approved and completed within the next few years. The proposed project would cost about $100,000 and is to be led by a master's student at Texas A&M.

"The more you learn about wildlife species, you can make more educated decisions on how you manage those populations," Derr said. "Barcoding animals so you can identify that species will allow you to manage that species in the areas where it occurs better."