Thursday, September 11, 2025
spot_img

Only wildlife genetics laboratory in NE provides DNA forensic service for a decade

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

Guwahati, July 11: The Wildlife Genetics Laboratory (WGL) at Aaranyak, the only in Northeast India, has been providing high-quality wildlife DNA forensic analysis services in the region especially in Assam for ten years thereby carving a niche for itself in aiding wildlife crime investigation in the region.

The laboratory has provided its services in over a hundred cases in Assam besides several cases in other states as well

During this period, the laboratory has provided a range of DNA analysis services including the identification of wildlife species from morphologically similar biological material, forensic individual matching through DNA fingerprinting of rhinos, elephants, tigers, leopards, and parentage testing of captive elephant calves.

In 2012, the WGL of Aaranyak became the first laboratory in the world to successfully use DNA fingerprinting for individual identification of greater one-horned rhinos in the wild and use this technique for population estimation as well as forensic investigations.

The laboratory has developed a genetic database of rhinos in the country, which allows identification of source of origin of any rhino sample, such as confiscated horns, which can provide crucial inputs to rhino related crime investigations.

“Along with providing training and on-the-ground support for DNA sampling, we plan to keep supporting wildlife forensic DNA investigations in Assam and other northeastern states,” says Udayan Borthakur, a Senior Scientist at Aaranyak and founder head of its Wildlife Genetics Division.

“We also express our gratitude to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Govt. of India, Assam government, as well as other state forest departments for enabling us to work in this field,” Borthakur added.

It is noteworthy that WGL, which was founded in 2008, was granted permission to collect biological samples from Scheduled I species under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change in 2009. The laboratory has been working on several major conservation genetic research projects on threatened wildlife species since 2009. The Assam Forest Department approved WGL’s services in 2014 for forensic DNA analysis and wildlife genetics inside the state.

 

 

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

CBI apprehends regional provident fund commissioner over accepting Rs 1.5 lakh bribe

New Delhi, Sep 11: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I, Delhi (West),...

Govt issues advisory to states to step up preventive measures against dengue, malaria

New Delhi, Sep 11: After reviewing the current situation of dengue and malaria in the country, the government...

Indian diplomacy’s special call for handling a multipolar world order

New Delhi, Sep 11: Current geopolitics is marked by the post-Cold War phenomenon of open warfare giving way...

‘Rahul Gandhi not following security protocol’: CRPF’s letter to Kharge, flags ‘uninformed’ foreign tours

New Delhi, Sep 11: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Thursday wrote a letter to Congress President...