Please can you share my project's crowdfunder

https://experiment.com/projects/can-a-simple-genetic-test-identify-hippo-ivory-in-trade

There is concern within national governments and conservation organisations that there is a rise in common hippopotamus poaching for ivory due to the increasing restrictions on elephant ivory trade . There is currently a legal trade in hippopotamus ivory in most countries and evidence of a significant illegal trade . Very little is known about the extent of the hippopotamus ivory trade and whether or not it is having a negative impact on the survival of the species.

Ivory is often 'worked' which means it has been carved into an ornamental item e.g. jewelery, knife handle or decorative object. For this reason it can be difficult to visually identify which species the ivory came from. Molecular genetic tools have been developed for elephant ivory and rhino horn identification. Nothing like this exists for hippos.  For my MSc I developed a genetic tool that would give a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer to the question 'is this hippo ivory?'. This simple PCR test could be used around the world as it doesn't need the DNA to be sequenced. 

I started this project as part of my MSc in Conservation Genetics with Wildlife Forensics (Uni of Edinburgh) and am now working with ZSL to finish off the lab work and to publish. I am crowdfunding for the consumable materials needed in the lab work. 

Any help and support promoting this within your networks would be greatly appreciated as I am only a third of the way there with 7 days to go.

Please click on the link for further info or send me a message as I would be happy to give more information. Thank you!!