DNA Database For Indian Rhino

Why is it in News?

The Union Environment Ministry has started a project to create DNA profiles of all rhinos in the country.

About the Project:

By 2021, the project’s deadline, the Indian Rhino could be the first wild animal species in India to have all its members DNA-sequenced.
The project is supported by World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) and the Centre-funded Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
The exercise would be useful in curbing poaching and gathering evidence in wildlife crimes involving rhinos.
There are three species of rhinos, of which only one — the Indian rhino — is found in the country. There are about 2,600 rhinos in India, with more than 90% of the population concentrated in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park.

World Wide Fund for Nature:

It is an international organization founded in 1961 which is committed to conservation of the environment.
Today its mission statement is threefold:
oTo conserve the world’s biological diversity.
oTo ensure that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable.
oTo promote the reduction of pollution and of wasteful consumption.
The WWF provides money for conservation initiatives around the world. These include programs focused on individual species, forests, and freshwater and marine issues as well as climate change and responsible international trade.
The WWF works closely with the World Conservation Union and has formed partnerships with the United Nations, the World Bank, and the European Union.
It also seeks cooperation between nongovernmental organizations, local governments, and local populations.

Wildlife Institute of India:

Situated in Dehradun, India, WII is a government institution run by the Indian Council on Forestry Research and Education which trains wildlife managers and wildlife researchers.
Started in 1982, WII offers training programs and courses in wildlife research and management.