The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Lab for wild animals opened

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Sunday, Oct 05, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Lab for wild animals opened

Special Correspondent

Intervention to prevent extinction of endangered animals

-Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Roaring to go: A wild panther in the special enclosure of the laboratory at Nehru Zoological Park.

Hyderabad: Lacones, a laboratory for the conservation of endangered species, was opened at Nehru Zoological Park here on Saturday marking the celebration of the 54th Wildlife Week. The project aims at biotechnological intervention to prevent extinction of endangered animals.

A male panther, Shankar, from Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park, Tirupati, was released into the animal holding facility at the zoo by Minister for Energy and Coal Mohd. Ali Shabbir.

The facility is set up jointly by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Central Zoo Authority of India and the A.P. Forest Department.

As part of the project, research will be done on three female and two male panthers for standardising the techniques for artificial insemination. B.C. Welfare Minister Mukesh Goud and Charminar MLA Syed Ahmed Pasha Qadri were also present on the occasion.

The project is taken up in view of the sharp drop in the population of tigers and panthers in the wild. Destruction of forest areas and fragmentation of habitats of wild animals has put their very survival at stake, informed Hitesh Malhotra, principal Chief Conservator of Forests.

Later addressing the ‘Vanyaprani Saptah’ celebrations, Mr. Shabbir said the State government was keen on protection of endangered animal species so that the posterity was not deprived from witnessing them.

Winners of essay writing, elocution and painting competitions held in connection with the Vanyaprani Saptah were awarded.An exhibition of wildlife depicted on stamps, coins, paper currency and newspapers was set up by K.P. Rao wherein coins and paper money from 128 countries was displayed.

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