Domesticated animals moving towards extinction!

Lucknow, May 22 (UNI) Forget tigers, even most of the domesticated animals are fast moving towards extinction, according to India's top veterinary scientist today.

The population of most of the 40 domesticated species in the country, including cow, horse and camel are fast dwindling, Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) Director S P S Ahlawat said.

Addressing a workshop here on the occasion of International Biodiversity Day, he said the population of cow was decreasing at the rate of almost 7 per cent.

''We are more concerned about the wildlife, especially tigers, but the various breeds of our livestock are also moving towards extinction right under our nose,'' he sounded a warning.

Dr Ahlawat said the phenomenon was global. ''It is estimated that about two breeds of some specie become extinct everyday somewhere in the world.'' He blamed degradation of ecosystem, deforestation and unbridled cross-breeding of species as the major causes for the fall in their numbers.

Although India has the largest livestock population and accounts for roughly 6 per cent of the world's biodiversity, the neglect of our forest and other natural resources would spell catastrophe in the years to come by, Dr Ahlawat underlined.

''Indiscriminate cross-breeding of cow is resulting in reproductive failure of this animal, which does not augur well for milk production and our agri-based economy,'' he reiterated.

Dr Ahlawat also touched upon the topic of biopiracy rampant the world over and suggested tougher measures to protect our biodiversity and resources.

''Brazil had taken a few cow breeds from India and today it claims these originally belong to it. I have been asked by the central govenment to provile documentary proof, that these breeds were sourced by the South American nation from India in the first place,'' he claimed.

The IVRI Director informed that only about 20 per cent of the Indian livestock had been categorised so far.

''All the indigenous livestock should be surveyed, named and categorised, so that these can be conserved in a well-planned manner,'' he pointed out.

Further, the top veterinary scientist added that fallow land should be converted into fodder growing tracts to support animal population.

UNI