Wildlife osteology museum in India

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*http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200711271322.htm*

*MP seeks Centre's help to set up Wildlife Osteology Museum*

 

Bhopal (PTI): In order to strengthen wildlife forensic capabilities and

ensure conviction of offenders under Wildlife Protection Act, Madhya Pradesh

government has approached the Centre for financial support to set up

country's maiden 'Wildlife Osteology Reference Museum'.

 

The establishment of the museum has been proposed temporarily within the

existing building of Wildlife Health Monitoring, Disease Diagnostic and

Research Cell in Jabalpur, Chief Wildlife Conservator P B Gangopadhya said

today.

 

" It would be the first museum in the country which would provide significant

reference material for conducting precise scientific study and

identification of animal bones, " he said, adding the department has written

to the Centre for financial assistance of Rs 2.6 crore in this regard.

 

Enforcement of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 was being hampered due

to lack of reference material and methods necessary to identify animal and

plant species in various wildlife offence cases, the wildlife officials

felt.

 

The museum will have an array of biological materials received under the

wildlife offence cases - including hair and skin, shalws, bone, meat, tusk,

wool, claw, musk pod, bear bile, antler, horn/hoof, blood, fat, brush and

snake venom.

 

" References of bone specimens will help in scientific identification of dead

animals from body parts seized in poaching cases and strengthen legal

proceedings against the accused, " Additional PCCF, Wildlife, H S Pabla said.