Suspecting an international racket in the export of semen of Ongole bull, acclaimed as one of the world's best bovine species available, the State government has sounded an alert at all sea ports and airports in the country to prevent transportation of either the animal or their genetic material.
The immediate provocation for the government taking this action through AP Biodiversity Board (APBB) was a recent incident on February 23 in which some persons working as agents of foreign animal husbandry farms/firms made a vain bid to transport 124 Ongole bulls/bullocks by containers suspectedly to Bangladesh en route to Brazil, Switzerland etc. The agents had purchased these animals from individual farmers in Prakasam district by offering high prices. Closing the containers during daytime and opening them after nightfall to feed the animals, the agents transported them up to Nakkapalli in Visakhapatnam district where the vehicles were intercepted by villagers on a tip-off by Viswa Hindu Parishad volunteers.
According to Dr. R. Hampaiah, chairman, APBB, and Dr. G. Manju Vani, additional director, Animal Husbandry, the animals were being taken away to use their semen for breeding purpose and claim a patent right later. After booking cases under Cruelty to Animals (Prevention) Act and Illegal Transportation of Animals (Prevention) Act, the police are trying to get clues about various dimensions of the smuggling.
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The West Bengal government has been asked to keep a watch at Benapole check-post as there is a possibility of some other gangs undertaking the transportation of another group of animals through this point.
Dr. Hampaiah regretted that the State government had not applied so far for the patent for Ongole bull, Punganur cow, red-sanders, Sona Masoori paddy, Duggirala turmeric etc which are specific to Andhra Pradesh.
He told this correspondent that APBB, which was constituted only recently under a Central Act, had now filed patents before National Patent Office, Chennai, which works in liaison with World Intellectual Properties Organisation.
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Characteristics
The DNA fingerprints and details about the specified characteristics of Ongole bull had been provided to the NPO whose scientists were expected to visit Ongole shortly to verify the claim.
If the Ongole bull was patented, no country could breed them without the government permission and, that too, on payment of royalty.