Zoological Survey of India Commences Documentation of 30,000 Fauna in Western Ghats; Proposes Wildlife Forensic Laboratory in Pune

Pune, 23, February 2024

Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre, functioning under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India, has documented more than 30,000 species of fauna found in the Western Ghats of the country, informed Dr. Basudev Tripathy, the officer in charge, ZSI, Western Regional Center.

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He also said that the research work is going on through ZSI regarding all these species and the work of preparing the DNA report of all of them is also going on at a fast pace.

Dr. Tripathy was speaking at a press conference organized by ZSI-WRC at Pune. Dr. Aparna Kalawte, Dr. Satish Talmale, Dr. Sachin Patil and other officers from ZSI-WRC were present. 

Dr. Basudev Tripathi said that, The Western Ghat Faunal Repository to be established at the Western Regional Centre, Pune has been in principle approved by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate, Change, Government of India and new building is going to come up soon. Also, WRC proposing to Govt. of India for establishing a Wildlife Forensic Laboratory at WRC, Pune, which is under active consideration by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

While elaborating he informed that ZSI is a leading scientific organization documenting and studying the fauna of India since its inception in 1916 at Kolkata. It has 16 regional centres spread across India covering all the ecosystems from the depths of ocean to the peaks of Himalaya.  
ZSI’s The Western Regional Centre was established in 1959 at Pune. It has completed 65 years of its existence in the city and proud to be the first centre of ZSI created in the western part of the country. This centre has so far carried out surveys of animal life and wildlife in major ecosystems, Protected Areas, covered state of Maharashtra, Goa and part of Gujarat and Karnataka, Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu as parts of its jurisdiction and documented more than 30,000 species of fauna from these states.

These includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, shellfish, crabs, scorpions, spiders, butterflies, weevils, moths, dragonflies, damselflies, gall midges, ants, bees, and scientists who are experts in their respective fields. Participated.

The Zoological Survey of India Western Regional Center is located in the Akurdi area of Pune and also houses a museum with over 750 specimens of about 375 species of different animals to educate students and create awareness among the public about biodiversity and its conservation.  Equally, there is a well established with 5000 books related to zoology and several journals and periodicals, catering the need of research students interested in biodiversity research, he said.

Scientists of this centre have contributed several publications in the form of books, book chapters, research articles and popular articles. Dr, Tripathy also mentioned about the major publications like Fauna of India (Scorpions and Spiders), State Fauna (Maharashtra and Goa), Fauna of Protected Areas (Melghat Tiger Reserve, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Navegaon National Park, Pench National Park, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandoli National Park, Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, Lonar Wildlife Sanctuary, Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary and Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary), and Fauna of Wetland Ecosystems (Nathsagar and Ujani), etc.

Apart from this, ZSI-WRC, Pune is providing identification and advisory services on various animal taxa, including confiscated wildlife materials received for confirmation, from enforcement agencies like the Maharashtra Police, Forest Department, Crime Branch, Central Excise, Custom Department, Dr. Tripathi told.

The literature (books, records) published by the Zoological Survey of India in the last 100 years is available free of cost on the website faunaofindia.nic.in. and he asked the scholars and researchers to take advantage of it.