Background: Illegal wildlife trade stands as one of the largest illicit activities worldwide, posing a serious threat to biodiversity, ecosystem stability, and the efforts of international law enforcement. Traditional investigation methods often struggle due to a lack of eyewitness accounts and poor traceability. However, the rise of wildlife forensics has brought a new level of scientific rigor to the detection of wildlife crimes and the prosecution process.

Aim: This study aims to delve into the evidentiary value of wildlife forensic science within legal systems and assess how effective it is in enhancing prosecution outcomes in wildlife crime cases.

Methodology: To achieve this, we adopted a qualitative, multi-method approach that included a literature review of 86 peer-reviewed sources, an analysis of 25 case reports, and 12 expert interviews conducted across India. We utilized thematic coding with NVivo and applied statistical tests like Chi-square and Fisher’s Exact Test for deeper analytical insights.

Results: The results showed that DNA profiling and toxicological analyses were utilized in 56% and 44% of the cases, respectively, leading to a commendable 72% conviction rate. When both methods were employed together, the success rate soared to 85.7%. Interviews indicated that all respondents recognized the value of forensic science, while 91.7% pointed out the need for better training and infrastructure. However, the statistical significance was somewhat limited due to small sample sizes and expected cell counts falling below the threshold in Chi-square tests.

Conclusion: Wildlife forensics plays a crucial role in enhancing the credibility and outcomes of legal proceedings related to conservation crimes. To fully harness its judicial and ecological potential, it’s essential to implement policy reforms, upgrade infrastructure, and invest in personnel training.