Scientists use forensic technology to genetically document infanticide in brown bears

(Pensoft Publishers) Scientists used a technology designed for human forensics, to provide the first genetically documented observation of infanticide in brown bears, following the murder of a female and her cubs in Italy, where a small population has been genetically monitored for already 20 years. Despite being a common reproductive strategy in social mammals, infanticide could threaten the long-term conservation of fragile populations and even species. The study is published in the open access journal Nature Conservation.
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: news