Guwahati, April 29: Wildlife Genetics Laboratory of Aaranyak today celebrated the successful completion of its inaugural eight‑day intensive hands‑on training programme, “Applications of DNA Technology in Wildlife Genetics & Forensics,” held during April 22–29 April .
The programme brought together eight researchers and academics for immersive, practical training in modern molecular and forensic techniques relevant to wildlife conservation.
The training combined classroom instruction, laboratory practice and field sampling to provide participants with end‑to‑end exposure to wildlife genetic workflows. Key modules included DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), genetic marker data analysis, phylogeny reconstruction, genetic diversity assessment and forensic identifications based on DNA data.
Udayan Borthakur, Director and Head of the Wildlife Genetics Division, said, “Participants gained practical experience across laboratory workflows and analytical pipelines, from sample to interpretation. We are confident this cohort will apply these skills in research, monitoring and forensic investigations that enhance wildlife protection.”
In a valedictory ceremony held today at Hotel Nakshatra here participants recounted their hands‑on experiences and learning outcomes from the training. Certificates were presented to all eight participants in recognition of their successful completion.
“This programme addresses a crucial capacity gap for conservation practitioners and forensic investigators in the region,” said Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, Executive Director, Aaranyak who attended the event and interacted with the participants.
“Hands‑on skills in genetic techniques empower professionals to generate robust scientific evidence that can aid species conservation and support legal processes to combat wildlife crime,” Dr Talukdar said.
“We are committed to developing manpower for the science and conservation sector in Northeast India through targeted training modules for students, researchers and academic professionals,” said Udayan Borthakur.
“We will also provide post‑training guidance to support participants in applying DNA technology in their future research and conservation work.”
The training — limited to eight participants to ensure intensive mentoring — was organised by the Wildlife Genetics Laboratory ((www.wildlifegeneticslab.in) in Guwahati and attracted researchers, academicians and conservation practitioners from across the region. The programme aims to foster a network of trained practitioners capable of applying DNA technologies for conservation genetics, population monitoring and wildlife forensics.
The training was delivered by the laboratory’s in‑house experts, including Mr. Udayan Borthakur and Dr. Pranjal Kumar Das. Sessions on DNA technologies and bioinformatics tools were also conducted by invited resource persons from other institutions, notably Dr. Pranjan Barman, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Gauhati University; Dr. Raju Bharalee, Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology; and Dr. Saurov Mahanta, Senior Technical Officer, National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, Guwahati.
The Wildlife Genetics Laboratory, the only government‑notified facility under Section 329(4) of the BNSS, 2023 in Northeast India, provide wildlife genetic and forensic DNA analysis support to government agencies on wildlife crime investigations. The lab supports conservation research and forensic casework by providing molecular expertise and targeted training to strengthen regional capacity.
