Kolkata, 02 July (H.S.): The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) on Thursday concluded the three-day Animal Taxonomy Summit (ATS) 2026 in Kolkata, coinciding with the institution's 111th Foundation Day celebrations. The summit, which began on June 30, was attended by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, who graced the valedictory session as the chief guest.
More than 500 scientists, researchers, and academicians from across the country participated in the summit. Over the three days, 10 technical sessions and poster presentations focused on taxonomy, systematics, faunal diversity, and wildlife conservation. The recommendations emerging from the deliberations will be submitted to the Government of India to help shape future environmental and biodiversity conservation policies.
During the closing ceremony, the Union Minister released five major scientific publications covering key areas of biodiversity and ecological research. These included studies on faunal diversity along the Golden Quadrilateral highway network, India's fossil fauna, Diptera diversity in the tropical evergreen forests and coastal ecosystems of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, wildlife documentation in the proposed Amaravati Smart City region of Andhra Pradesh, and India's first scientific expedition to the Larsemann Hills in Antarctica.
The Golden Quadrilateral study documented 2,359 faunal species across 12 states and one Union Territory. Another publication presented the first comprehensive national synthesis of India's fossil fauna, tracing more than one billion years of evolutionary history across 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
The Andaman and Nicobar study documented 101 fly species belonging to 47 genera and 18 families, including several species recorded in India for the first time. The Amaravati biodiversity assessment identified 500 wildlife species, including 5 vulnerable species. The Antarctica publication highlighted findings from India's 33rd Scientific Expedition, documenting the region's hidden microbial diversity.
The Minister also felicitated the winners of the ATS 2026 poster presentation competition and congratulated 27 research scholars who completed their doctoral studies under the guidance of ZSI scientists.
On the occasion, ZSI exchanged four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with leading research institutions to strengthen scientific collaboration. The agreements were signed with the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), University of Kalyani, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, and the Anthropological Survey of India. The collaborations aim to promote joint research in biodiversity conservation, marine ecology, DNA studies, taxonomy, and capacity building, and are expected to significantly strengthen India's wildlife research and conservation initiatives.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
