The first women faunal expedition to explore high-altitude faunal diversity in India

The first women faunal expedition comprising seven scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) will explore endangered and endemic faunal diversity from an altitude 2,800 m to 5,800 m in Himachal Pradesh, it was announced on Tuesday.

The Lahaul valley is a remote terrain of high altitudes of Himalaya with rough climatic conditions. The survey will include far-flung valleys like Miyar, Udipur, Ghepan and Sissu and high-altitude passes like Baralacha and Shinkula, the fresh water Suraj Tal lake.

These are tough tracts that even men avoid trudging. The expedition, flagged off from the Atal tunnel near Manali by ZSI director Dhriti Banerjee on Monday, is being organised to encourage the women scientists to participate in such expeditions in the future.

"It will boost the morale of women scientists covering this tough tract," she said.

The ZSI is one of the premier organisations involved in taxonomic studies of fauna.

Banerjee took over as the 18th director of the 105-year institute on August 6, 2021. Headquartered in Kolkata, the ZSI has 16 regional centres and about 300 scientists, as reported by IANS, a partner of TV BRICS.

Photo: IStock