Scientists at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly are in the process of collecting DNA samples of all wild animals to set up the bank.
It is expected to help in research and also in bringing down poaching.
At present, the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) in Hyderabad is the only such facility in the country.
It took one year for the IVRI to collect the DNA samples of animals such as tigers, leopards, lions, elephants, rhinos and deer, which are on the radar of poachers.
The bank has ‘positive sample’ meaning ‘known sample’ which will have DNA sequencing. In future, if we get some ‘unknown sample’ like hair or skin, then with the help of the DNA bank, we can tell which animal it belongs to.
