The National Zoological Park in Delhi is exploring its possibilities of an on-site wildlife bio bank. In collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, CCMB in Hyderabad, the Delhi zoo is a long-term conservation and research project by establishing a bank for preserving the genetic material of various animals. 

What is a bio bank? 

Well, a bio bank is a facility where the collection and preservation of genetic material from animals, such as DNA, tissue, reproductive cells, etc, are preserved for further research, conservation, and scientific ventures. 

The initiative of a bio bank inside the Delhi zoo is part of a bigger effort led by the Central Zoo Authority, CZA, to strengthen conservation in Indian zoos. A bio bank in the Delhi zoo will be the first such facility in the capital city. But bio banks exist at other places in India, like Padmaja Naidu Himalaya Zoological Park in Darjeeling.

The Padmaja Naidu Himalaya Zoological Park also became the first when it comes to establishing such a facility. The bio bank in Darjeeling was set up earlier this year under the same initiative. 

The proposed bio bank in the capital city will contribute to building a national repository of genetic material for conservation. Science samples to be stored in the bio bank will be strictly used for research and regulated reading processes under the supervision of the CZA and CCMB. 

As per the October-December 2024 quarterly inventory report of the national zoological Park, the Delhi zoo is home to several endangered species is listed under schedule one and schedule two of the wildlife protection act of 1972, these include Asiatic lion, Royal Bengal tiger, Indian greater one Horned rhino, Indian Elephant, sloth beer, long tail macaque, Indian wolf, Indian bison for antelope, himalayan black bear, Indian rock Python and the spectacular cobra. 

Let’s see how this bio bank in the capital city, Delhi, provides India with an indigenous knowledge of its own flora and fauna.