Animal identification

It is done for a variety of reasons including verification of ownership, biosecurity control, and tracking for research or agricultural purposes.

Individual identification of animals by means of body markings has been practiced for over 3,800 years, as stated in Code of Hammurabi.

[2] Photo-identification is a technique used to identify and track individuals of a wild animal study population over time.

It relies on capturing photographs of distinctive characteristics such as skin or pelage patterns or scars from the animal.

It also allows researchers to perform longitudinal studies of individuals over many years, yielding data about the lifecycle, lifespan, migration patterns, and social relationships of the animals.

Calf identified with ear tag and transponder
Researchers use variation on humpback whale flukes to identify and track the animals