India’s first genetic bank for wildlife conservation

HYDERABAD: In a step that would further the cause of conservation of endangered and protected animals, India got its first scientific and most modern national wildlife genetic resource bank.

The bank that contains genetic resources of about 250 wildlife species was dedicated to the nation by union minister of science and technology Harsh Vardhan at the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES).

The state-of-the-art bank is equipped with sophisticated equipment to preserve the genetic resources that could be utilised to virtually resurrect an animal species in case it goes extinct.

The Genetic Resource Bank will store genetic material of Indian species. It will also help in protecting India’s biodiversity and environment.