(IN) Coming soon, country's first taxidermy centre at SGNP

[Guest guest]

Mumbai

Dead animals from the country's zoos and sanctuaries will be on

display at Borivali National Park

India will soon have the first-ever taxidermy centre in Mumbai's

Sanjay Gandhi National Park - a workshop where carcasses of wild

animals from across the country's zoos and sanctuaries would be sent

for preservation and display.

 

B Majumdar, Maharashtra's principal chief conservator of forest, said

he recently approved the proposal to start a full-fledged taxidermy

centre in the park, in principle. " Taxidermy is the art of stuffing

and preserving dead animals in its original skeleton and skin - its

main purpose being display of the animal in its lifelike state. Animal

trophies can be very useful for preservation and educational proposes.

We had received a proposal from the SGNP a few months ago to start

such a center on its premises and have given the go-ahead, " he said.

 

According to Dr Santosh Gaikwad, the country only taxidermist, who has

already preserved several wild cats, turtles and birds, at present

works of out a small room in the SGNP. " I have agreed to offer

honorary services at the centre, " he said.

 

The centre will have provision for skinning, tanning, moulding and

casting of carcasses.

 

Usually when a wild or captive animal dies in a national park or zoo,

they are cremated. However, a provision in the Wildlife Protection Act

states that a dead animal can be preserved if it could serve in

conservation and education.

 

Gaikwad said, " Many species in Maharashtra are fast becoming extinct.

Cheetahs have disappeared. The Great Indian Bustard (Mahdok) and

leopards are on the verge of extinction. At such a time, stuffing and

preserving of these animals can be of great use. In educational

context, students can actually see, touch and understand the anatomy

of these animals. "

 

P N Munde, the conservator of SGNP, confirmed that the proposal has

been passed by the wildlife department. " We are now waiting for grants

from the Centre and the state to execute the project. To develop the

centre, we will require a nominal fund of Rs 10-15 lakh. Once we get

the funds, we'll start working on it.

 

Gaikwad said that the plan was to develop a 900 to 1000 square ft

garage in the SGNP as a taxidermy centre.

 

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