NAGPUR: The wildlife wing of the
state forest department and Nagpur Veterinary College under Maharashtra Animal
and Fishery Sciences University (Mafsu) are in talks to set up forensic
laboratory dedicated to crimes against wildlife.
The idea for a forensic lab was floated for a long time but it gathered steam only now. The first meeting to discuss modalities was held on Thursday between state's principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Sarjan Bhagat, APCCF (ecotourism) N Rambabu and head of the department (HoD) of medicine Dr NP Dakshinkar and assistant professor Dr Gautam Bhojane.
Bhagat said the lab, to be funded by the forest department, will be set up in veterinary college and managed by its experts. "During prima facie discussions, we were told that the set-up will tentatively require Rs 8-9 crore. An MoU between forest department and Mafsu will be signed once modalities are finalized," Bhagat said.
"The veterinary college here has also been included as the thematic area under the Indo-US Wildlife Conservation Cooperation Programme (WCCP). Help to set up the lab can also be a part of this programme," forest officials said.
"We already have a tie-up with MAFSU for veterinary support when it comes to treating endangered animals. The lab will examine, identify, and compare evidence using a wide range of scientific procedures and instruments, in the attempt to link suspect, victim, and crime scene with physical evidence," they told TOI.
There is spurt in wildlife crime in the region. To get forensic results, samples are sent to either Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, or Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad. It consumes lot of time to get the results and eventually affects the legal cases. "Hence, focus of the forensic lab at Nagpur will be to foster and promote collaborative programmes to combat wildlife crime," Bhagat said.
Veterinary college sources said the laboratory will strengthen existing research and development facilities and promote more effective exchange of information, technology and standardized common protocols. It will boost better role in sensitizing law enforcement and judiciary systems on the regional scale for higher wildlife crime conviction rates.
"Thrust will be on developing and training towards newer research tools in wildlife forensics and conservation field," they added.
The idea for a forensic lab was floated for a long time but it gathered steam only now. The first meeting to discuss modalities was held on Thursday between state's principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Sarjan Bhagat, APCCF (ecotourism) N Rambabu and head of the department (HoD) of medicine Dr NP Dakshinkar and assistant professor Dr Gautam Bhojane.
Bhagat said the lab, to be funded by the forest department, will be set up in veterinary college and managed by its experts. "During prima facie discussions, we were told that the set-up will tentatively require Rs 8-9 crore. An MoU between forest department and Mafsu will be signed once modalities are finalized," Bhagat said.
"The veterinary college here has also been included as the thematic area under the Indo-US Wildlife Conservation Cooperation Programme (WCCP). Help to set up the lab can also be a part of this programme," forest officials said.
"We already have a tie-up with MAFSU for veterinary support when it comes to treating endangered animals. The lab will examine, identify, and compare evidence using a wide range of scientific procedures and instruments, in the attempt to link suspect, victim, and crime scene with physical evidence," they told TOI.
There is spurt in wildlife crime in the region. To get forensic results, samples are sent to either Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, or Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad. It consumes lot of time to get the results and eventually affects the legal cases. "Hence, focus of the forensic lab at Nagpur will be to foster and promote collaborative programmes to combat wildlife crime," Bhagat said.
Veterinary college sources said the laboratory will strengthen existing research and development facilities and promote more effective exchange of information, technology and standardized common protocols. It will boost better role in sensitizing law enforcement and judiciary systems on the regional scale for higher wildlife crime conviction rates.
"Thrust will be on developing and training towards newer research tools in wildlife forensics and conservation field," they added.
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