Aaranyak will support Assam’s Raimona Park in Forensic case

Guwahati: Aarnayak’s Wildlife Genetics Laboratory has provided forensic DNA analysis support to Assam’s Raimona National Park to investigate a case of wildlife crime under Kachugaon division.

In a recent report submitted to the Divisional Forest Officer, Kachugaon Division, the laboratory has helped in species identification and wild origin of suspected meat samples seized by authorities.
“We are pleased to provide forensic DNA analysis support to Raimona National Park and assist park management in combating wildlife crime in the area,” said Udayan Borthakur, senior scientist and founder of the Wildlife Genetics Division at Aaranyak. The chief says.
“We need to focus more on forensics instead of using crude old-fashioned methods and bring all these new scientifically robust technologies to the investigation of crimes,” said Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, Secretary General and Aaranyak CEO and one of the most important country’s wildlife expert.

It is worth mentioning that Aaranyak’s Wildlife Genetics Laboratory has been providing wildlife forensic DNA analysis services to the Assam Forest Department since 2014.
The laboratory is the first of its kind in Northeast India for wildlife genetic research as well as forensic DNA investigations. Recently the laboratory has also extended its support to Forest Department of Arunachal Pradesh in forensic DNA investigation in two wildlife crime cases under Pak Wildlife Sanctuary Division and Hapoli Wildlife Division of Arunachal Pradesh.
Raimona National Park is located in the Gosaigaon region of Assam within the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) across the border with Bhutan. The Government of Assam has declared it as the sixth National Park of Assam on the occasion of World Environment Day on 5 June 2021.
In Raimona National Park, you can easily spot the Golden Langur, a native species known as BTR’s mascot. The national park is also home to the Asian elephant and the Royal Bengal tiger.