Scavenging animals often scatter skeletal remains of forensic interest and cause scavenging damage. This study aimed to identify scavenging animals in the peri-urban agricultural Highveld of South Africa, describe their scattering patterns, and the damage they cause to bone. Ten pig carcasses (Sus scrofa domesticus) (40-80 kg) were placed at the University of Pretoria's Mierjie Le Roux Experimental Farm (Highveld) in summer and winter. Motion activated cameras recorded the scavenging. Scavenger species were identified and their behaviors, scattering pattern, and the damage they cause to bone were described. Scavenging was primarily by black-backed jackals, however mongooses (slender, yellow, and water mongoose), Cape porcupine, and honey badger were also active. Remains were commonly scattered in two directions by jackals. The distance of scattering was heavily influenced b y fencing. The remains were scattered within a maximum radius of 73.7 m. The remains were scavenged and skeletonized faster in summer. Jackals caused minimal damage to bone, isolated to superficial, nonspecific scores, furrows and punctures. A few mongoose bone alterations were present as jagged gnaw marks on the angle of the mandible and gnawing of the vertebral spinous process. Cape porcupine bone damage included gnaw marks on the condyle of a femur and head of humerus, and destruction of the proximal and distal ends of a tibia. The described scattering pattern and bone modification patterns will assist in the recovery and analysis of scavenged remains found in peri-urban agricultural areas in South Africa.
Disclaimers:The main author conceived this study, and performed the data collection, analysis and interpretation, and the writing of this article. The manuscript, data, figures and tables have not been previously published and are not under consideration elsewhere.
Burn injuries affect millions of people globally each year. South Africa is a developing country where fatal fires are common. Despite the pervasiveness of fatal burns in South Africa, there is a paucity of information regarding the frequency of fatal burns in the city of Johannesburg. This study aimed to describe the demographics and frequency of fatal burn cases received at the Johannesburg Forensic Pathology Services Medico-legal Laboratory for medico-legal death investigations. This study was a five-year (2010-2014) retrospective review of 185 forensic medico-legal case files of the Johannesburg Forensic Pathology Services Medico-legal Laboratory. The demographic at the greatest risk of fatal burns in Johannesburg, South Africa are black males between the ages of 20-39 years. The most common type of fatal burns is thermal in nature, as a result of flames. Burns are prevalent in the winter months, most notably July and August. Burn wounds are most common on the head, chest, upper back, abdomen, arms, and legs. This study is the first to report of fatal burns in Johannesburg, South Africa and may be used as a source to improve public services for the prevention of fatal burns.
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