Abstract: A method of using blockchain technology to verify data items pertaining to a specimen of wild flora or fauna is disclosed. A blockchain is distributed across a plurality of machines and associated with a transaction pertaining to the specimen. A first group of the plurality of machines executes seller-side blockchain operations, including writing data items pertaining to origin and transfers of ownership of the specimen in a block of a plurality of blocks of the blockchain. A second group of the plurality of machines executes one or more buyer-side blockchain operations, including writing data items pertaining to additional transfers of ownership as one or more additional blocks of the plurality of blocks of the blockchain. A third group of the plurality of machines executes one or more verification applications to access one or more of the plurality of blocks of the blockchain to verify the one or more data items.