Kolkata, September 14, 2022

 

A real demonstration of monitoring of large and threatened mammals in the Indian Himalayan Region has been made by the team of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) scientists by use of non-invasive genetics. This has been the largest attempt from the Indian Himalayan region (IHR) where 4806 faecal samples were processed for non-invasive genetic monitoring of threatened mammals covering six study sites namely Lahaul and Spiti, Uttarkashi, Darjeeling, East Sikkim, West Kameng and East Siang, stated ZSI Scientist Shri Mukesh Thakur. Altogether the scientists had at least one site that represented all biotic provinces of the Himalayan and Tran-Himalayan Bio-geographic zones. According to Dr Dhriti Banerjee, Director, ZSI, “It was not an easy and straightforward task for the scientists, but the study made a benchmark to be followed”. She also assured that no parallel work has ever been done in India under one single project as far as the number of species studied genetically with the use of faecal samples.

The scientists identified 37 mammals and 13 species were studied for their genetic make-up, population structure and genetic fitness. Shri Thakur along with another scientist of ZSI Shri Lalit Sharma who heads the GIS & Wildlife Section of the organisation, coordinated the project activities. Low to moderate levels of genetic variability was observed and most species exhibited stable demographic histories.

The project was awarded to the institute under the large grant category of National Mission on Himalayan Studies supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC).

The study has estimated an unbiased population genetic account for 13 species that may be monitored after a fixed time interval to understand species performance in response to the landscape changes.

Dr Banerjee stated, “This type of deliverable is only possible with the strong determination, pervasiveness, clarity of vision and unbiased contribution/coordination of all the team members.”

The study has been published in the “Science of the Total Environment”, which is available online from September 11, 2022 and reveals the pragmatic permeability with the representative sampling in the IHR in order to facilitate the development of species-oriented conservation and management programmes.

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SSS/

(Release ID: 1859195)