Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has turn out to be the first state within the nation to have ready a DNA database of all of the inhabitants of its captive elephants.
The initiative is anticipated to play a vital position in captive wildlife management and come in useful in wildlife crime investigations. The database can be utilized to settle disputes on identity, and as microsatellite markers to detect any mutation or illness within the animals.
The state forest division performed DNA profiling of all 519 captive elephants registered with it, with the technical fortify of Thiruvananthapuram-based Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB). The division is now making plans to increase a cell app to use the database.
DNA fingerprints of the jumbos have been ready using blood samples. The document was once passed over to go of forest pressure (HoFF) and chief wildlife warden P Ok Kesavan by way of RGCB director M Radhakrishna Pillai at a serve as held here on Tuesday. The division, from now on, will supply identity cards that includes QR code with DNA main points along side possession certificates to house owners of the captive elephants.
Though the department had issued possession and microchip certificates to house owners, issue in reading microchips and forged certificates continued to create hurdles in probing offences related to unlawful switch of jumbos with industrial hobby, officers pointed out.
Union ministry of environment, forest and local weather exchange sanctioned Rs 10 lakh below the centrally-sponsored scheme ‘Project Elephant’ for the initiative.
The initiative is anticipated to play a vital position in captive wildlife management and come in useful in wildlife crime investigations. The database can be utilized to settle disputes on identity, and as microsatellite markers to detect any mutation or illness within the animals.
The state forest division performed DNA profiling of all 519 captive elephants registered with it, with the technical fortify of Thiruvananthapuram-based Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB). The division is now making plans to increase a cell app to use the database.
DNA fingerprints of the jumbos have been ready using blood samples. The document was once passed over to go of forest pressure (HoFF) and chief wildlife warden P Ok Kesavan by way of RGCB director M Radhakrishna Pillai at a serve as held here on Tuesday. The division, from now on, will supply identity cards that includes QR code with DNA main points along side possession certificates to house owners of the captive elephants.
Though the department had issued possession and microchip certificates to house owners, issue in reading microchips and forged certificates continued to create hurdles in probing offences related to unlawful switch of jumbos with industrial hobby, officers pointed out.
Union ministry of environment, forest and local weather exchange sanctioned Rs 10 lakh below the centrally-sponsored scheme ‘Project Elephant’ for the initiative.
In a first, state gets DNA database on captive jumbos
![In a first, state gets DNA database on captive jumbos]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
December 19, 2018
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