The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Feather in the cap for city scientists

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Sunday, Nov 16, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Feather in the cap for city scientists

Two more fawns of black buck produced through artificial insemination

Rosy scenario: A new-born fawn enjoying the motherly warmth.

HYDERABAD: In a repeat of last year’s feat, city scientists have facilitated through artificial insemination the birth of two live fawns of endangered black buck.

The scientists from the Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), an annexe of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), earlier demonstrated successfully the assisted reproductive method for the birth of a spotted deer as a model for wild ungulates followed by a live birth of an endangered black buck in August last.

Black buck, (Antelope cervicapra) commonly called as Kala Hiran or Krishna Mrig in Hindi and Nalla Jhinka in Telugu, and found all over India, has become endangered because of threat to its survival due to hunting.

This necessitated developing assisted reproductive strategies as one of the conservation measures, said a press release issued by CCMB here on Friday.

With two of the inseminated females giving birth of two live fawns on September 14 and October 5, after 177 days of pregnancy, a success rate of 66 per cent was achieved, almost double of what was reported earlier.

Diversity

CCMB Director Lalji Singh while appreciating the efforts of the scientists, said the development of assisted reproductive technologies in LaCONES would significantly contribute to the maintenance of genetic diversity and conservation of endangered animals.

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