Forest dept prepares DNA profile of captive elephants
HALDWANI: For the first time, DNA profile of captive elephants in the Corbett tiger reserve (CTR) will be prepared. In this regard, guidelines have been given to the reserve administration by officials working on the Project Elephant.
Soon, a team of veterinarians will start DNA sampling of jumbos, forest officials said.
CTR director Rahul (who goes by first name) said, “We have received instructions on behalf of Project Elephant for DNA sampling of captive elephants.
Now for DNA testing, samples of the blood of 18 elephants will be taken. With this, the DNA profile of jumbos will be prepared. Wildlife Institute of India has been entrusted with this.”
“By creating a profile, the database of captive elephants will be prepared and information will be available on many other points including their age, heredity etc,” he said.
Dushyant Sharma, senior veterinarian at CTR, said, “DNA profiling will help in keeping tab on smuggling of elephant body parts and identity of elephants if one dies in the forest.” “Apart from this, the exact number of captive elephants and their genetic identity from across the country will be known from this DNA profiling. Before Corbett, this has been initiated in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana” he said.
According to forest officials, union ministry of environment and forests, started the project elephant in 1992 for the protection and conservation of elephants due to the decline in the numbers.
Main objectives of “Elephant Project” are to conserve the habitat of wild elephants, work for welfare of captive elephants, resolve the issue of man-animal conflict and care for captive elephants.
At present, the Project Elephant is being implemented in 16 states.