The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Aquarium's winning move: a boxed gift set from the deep

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 02, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Aquarium's winning move: a boxed gift set from the deep

Staff Reporter

MBS move to kindle students' interest in marine fauna

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE: JRB Alfred (centre) discusses a point with former director T.N. Ananthakrishnan (right) at the Marine Biological Station here on Wednesday. MBS Officer-in-Charge J.T. Jothinayagam looks on. — Photo: R.Ragu

CHENNAI: Sea snakes, sea horses, clown fish and puffer fish are some of the bait used by the Marine Biological Station (MBS) to draw children into the fascinating world of life in the ocean.

The MBS has got students interested in its work, by presenting a set of marine fauna specimens to school laboratories.

10 schools

About 10 schools received a set of six specimens each from the Marine Biological Station on its 33rd foundation day celebration on Wednesday. More schools have been identified to participate in the venture.

Specimens of sea snake, cowfish, sea horse, lobster, clown fish, sucker fish, catfish, puffer fish and mantis shrimp were given to the schools. Each specimen was enclosed in a clear plastic container labelled with the scientific name, common name and the place it was found.

After receiving the specimens, students went around the aquarium and took notes on the different types of fish. They were also curious to know where the species were found and what they ate.

JRB Alfred, Zoological Survey of India Director, said the opening of the aquarium last year had generated tremendous interest among children. Schools had also shown a keen interest in the recently conducted exhibition on `Amazing World of Animals.'

Museum planned

The Marine Biological Station is the country's nodal agency to study marine fauna of the East and West coasts, Andaman and Nicobar islands and Lakshwadeep islands. Specimens have been collected since 1973.

Now, a museum is being planned on the premises to display the hundreds of specimens in an organised manner rather than have them in cupboards. Work is in progress to set up the museum.

S. Kannaiyan, Chairman of the National Biodiversity Authority, launched the MBS website on Wednesday. Scientists and staff who had worked at the station were honoured. For information on the research station and to view photos of exhibits in the aquarium, log on to ww.zsimarinebiological

station.in.

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