the lab analysed dozens of coins in a swimming case against jimmy and felix carr. they were among thousands of its the lab investigates, all to protect wildlife. on this day the doctor is conducting an autopsy on a golden eagle submitted by a field agent. >> often the animals are found dead, and that's the history that we have. we have to use skills, knowledge and senses to figure out what went on before the animal died. extending from the right side of the test and down the medial aspect of the right leg is a tract of feather singeing. >> that suggests the cause of death was electrocution, possibly by a power line. in these photographs taken under a special forensic yellow light, the singed parts glow orange. proof that the bird was electrocuted. even bones can unravel mysteries, like the bear skull. >> the character of the hole through the skull, that it was bevelled on one side, and not as bevelled on this side. and the fact that this bone is discoloured around it. >> i can see that for sure. >> it's more indicative that that is a gunshot wound. >> reporter: if

. >> what was important was the wildlife trafficking between jim and felix carr, and the direct rise in murders, killings in the wilds of south africa. >> what crime lad do you turn to when the victim has four legs, and all you have is a severed horn? this one. the wildlife lab in oregon. >> digits two and three on the white foot... >> reporter: it's the world's only crime lab invited to wildlife. it investigates cases for the u.s., and other countries, relating to the convention on international trade. a treaty known as cites. >> our job is to speak to the evidence. >> ken is the lab director. he built it from scratch after a crimes. >> how would you say your work now is different from the work investigator. >> police work is competitive. here, we are making a difference. we can save species. we are pushing the envelope. >> the science starts when a package arrives. with it questions from a u.s. fish and wildlife field agent. often the first one is "what is it?" in the case of a horn smuggled by the carr, the first question was "are they rhino?", this horn is made of keratin, the sa