ABSTRACT
A well-performed post-mortem examination can also yield data on morphometrics, organ weights and organ/body weight ratios, and on the gross and histological appearance of tissues. Quite apart from their evidential use, such data can be of great value in research on wildlife species. Every eort should be taken, therefore, to record relevant information and, when circumstances permit (not always easy in legal cases), to collect material for study and future reference. However, priorities have to be considered. While a full necropsy would normally include some routine recording, such as weight and certain measurements, extensive collection of information on morphometrics and (e.g.) pelage may be counterproductive in cases where these data are of little or no direct relevance to the main objective of the forensic necropsy (cause of death/time of death, etc.). is is why the pathologist must rst ask ‘why is this post-mortem examination being performed?’ (see later). In the case of rare or endangered species, especially when time is short, a balance may have to be struck. It may be worthwhile inviting a zoologist with knowledge of the species that is being examined to attend the necropsy, to advise on any special morphological features and to record biological (‘non-pathological’) data. Even if such attendance is not possible, the pathologist should consider contacting a suitably qualied person before or during the post-mortem examination in order to ascertain which ‘zoological’ data should, if possible, be recorded.
