BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY
KOLKATA, 29 JUNE 2023:
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with some leading instituitions and the Royal Government of Bhutan for conservation of Red Panda during its 108th Foundation Day on 1 July at Kolkata.
Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, the first woman Director in the history of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in Kolkata has informed that the Royal Bhutan Government has sought help from ZSI for conservation of the Red Panda.
“ Our work in conservation of red panda in the Himalayan area has been worldwide acclaimed and the Bhutan Government has expressed their willingness to get technological assistance and guidance for conservation of the red panda species in Bhutan,” said Dr. Dhriti Banerjee.
Already Bhutan Government has handed over 25 percent of the projrct cost to Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the work will start shortly.
But the formal understanding will take place on 1 st July 2023. This will be a pioneering effort as for this first time in history for both the neighboring countries such a cross border programee will take place.
These MoUs are intended to develop and foster an interest amongst the youth in research study in biodiversity and taxonomy.
Red Panda, scientific name – Ailurus fulgens are a small mammal native animal to the E and southwestern China. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle and a ringed tail. It has been enlisted as an Endangered species on the IUCN Red List since 2015. It is protected in all the range countries. Community-based conservation programmes have been initiated in Nepal, Bhutan and Northeastern part of India.
The union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, Mr. Bhupender Yadav will be in Kolkata on the 1 st of July, 2023, to inaugurate the 108 th Foundation Day Celebration of Zoological Survey of India, at the East End Pavilion of Nicco Park, Salt Lake, Kolkata. He will also be declaring the opening of Animal Taxonomy Summit-2023 being organised by ZSI to commemorate the occasion.
The events around the celebrations will focus on “Mission LiFE” (Mission Life-style For Environment) where ZSI is set to showcase its effort in reaching out to two crores people across the country with message for environment protection through street plays, public events, and seminars. ZSI will present a gala cultural program to highlight environmental issues and its effort to reach out to the citizens.
Mr. Bhupendar Yadav will also be releasing the Animal Discoveries – 2022 comprising more than 600 new species and new records added to the total list of animals for the country. He will also be releasing publications on ‘75 wetland fauna of India’ as well as ‘75 endemic birds of India’ to commemorate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Mr. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Shri Chandra Prakash Goyal, IFS, Director General of Forests and Special Secretary, MoEFCC will also grace the occasion and address the gathering.
The Animal Taxonomy Summit – 2023 is the first of its kind for the country wherein 400 delegates across India and abroad including Natural History Museum, London will be participating in the event and presenting their research findings. About 12 eminent invited speakers will deliver talks on different aspects of animal taxonomy, biodiversity conservation and biogeography. Selected peer reviewed research papers presented during the summit will be published as a special volume of the Records of Zoological Survey of India, a pioneer journal of Indian Zoology, being published by ZSI over the last 100 years.
The three days’ ATS aims to bring the leading animal taxonomists in one platform to discuss the recent advancements in taxonomy and to facilitate faunal identification through modern tools. The summit will be concluded on 3 rd July 2023. The recommendations of the summit will be conveyed to the Government of India.
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