TIRUPATI: Research activities have completely ceased at the Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve, with the bio-lab totally neglected by forest officials in Tirupati.
The government says they are here to protect the forest and make Andhra ‘Green’, but the reality of the situation is completely different. No research activity has taken place in this region to protect the wild and the forest department hasn’t even posted a wildlife researcher. The bio-lab which is meant to discover new species and give information of places that need security is totally shut with no activity. The bio lab was opened in the year 2013, after the Seshachalam was notified as a ‘Biosphere Reserve’ by the Indian government. The lab was used to educate students earlier, but now the visitor count is down to zero.
The government appointed the assistant conservator of the Forest, as the in-charge for the bio lab, when it was initiated. But the post was left vacant after he was transferred. So the DFO of Tirupati, now looks after this lab. Currently, dead animals exhibited here are getting decomposed, as there is no periodical change of any solutions. The solutions are turned out in colour. No funds have been mobilised yet by the government, to protect the assets in the bio-lab.
An officer from the Forest Department, said, “No one is taking care of the bio lab. Earlier, officers would adjust other funds to the bio-lab, understanding the need for it. But now they are not maintaining it at all. The butterflies kept for exhibition have completely vanished months ago, with no effort being taken to replace them. “There are some speculations within the department, that the bio-lab will be completely shifted to the Zoo Park.” A retired forest official on condition of anonymity said, “A researcher will act as a bridge between the wild and the officials. He will notify them of all the safety measures to be taken, at different places, according to the habitat and the count of the different species in that particular region. With no wildlife researcher, it would be impossible to understand the different animal species in the forest.” We tried to find reasons why there was no research activity, but got no reply from the official from the forest department.
