The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) was established in 1916, primarily to explore and inventories the faunal resources (diversity) of the country and to collect and document the base line data with regard to taxonomy , distribution, bio-ecology, etc., of all animal groups. During the last 91 years and largely particularly from the Second Five Plan period the Zoological Survey of India has grown from a small unit at the Indian Museum, Calcutta, to a premier National Institution with 16 Regional and Fields Stations spread all over India with Headquarters at Calcutta. Over the successive plan periods the factions of Zoological Survey of India have also expanded gradually encompassing areas like the Environmental Impact Assessment with regard to fauna; of Conservation Areas; Status Survey of Endangered Species; Chromosomal Mapping and DNA Finger Printing, Computerization of data on faunal resources; Environmental Information System (ENVIS) on faunal diversity, etc. This Organization also has a regular Training and Extension service for creating public awareness for the conservation of environment and wildlife through exhibitions training programmes on ornithology, wildlife conservation and Environmental Awareness, Methodologies on Collection, preservation and identification of zoological specimens, etc. and interaction with different Government and NGOs, as well as universities, colleges and schools.
The experts of ZSI also identify the seized wildlife material received for different Government organizations. Besides, Zoological Survey of India also acts as a custodian of the National Zoological Collections which comprise more than two million specimens belonging to some 81,000 species including about 10,000 species of other neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
Initially, Zoological Survey of India set up nine Regional and Field Stations, namely Northern Regional Station at Dehra Dun; Southern Regional Station at Madras; Eastern Regional Station at Shillong; Western Regional Station at Pune; Central Regional Station at Jabalpur; Desert Regional Station at Jodhpur; Genetic Plains Regional Station at Patna; Marine Biological Station at Chennai; and High Altitude Zoology Field Stations at Solan to survey and study the fauna of different biographic zones of India. Subsequently during 1979-1983, six more stations were established to conduct faunistic surveys in some important ecosystems: namely, Freshwater Biological station at Hyderabad for freshwater fauna and limn logical studies: Estuarine Biological Station at Berhampur and Sunderbans Fields Research Station at Port Canning, for estuarine and mangrove fauna studies; Western Ghats Fields Research station at Kozhikode and Arunachal Pradesh Fields station at Itanagar for the fauna of tropical rain forests and the Andaman & Nicobar Regional Station at Port Blair for insular and marine Fauna. During the Seventh Five Year Plan period the Marine Aquarium–cum–Research Centre at Digha (West Bengal) was set-up mainly to cater the needs of public education and awareness on main fauna through a large aquarium and other ancillary research facilities. Recently the Eastern Regional Station completed its50 years of Golden Jubilee celebration.
In order to understand the occurrence, abundance and distribution of species in space and time, its relationship with biotic and abiotic conditions of the environment and its mode of life particularly feeding and reproduction, extensive and intensive fields’ studies are essential prerequisite. Today, the Zoological Survey of India is the only organization in the country having a massive set-up for survey of exploration of the faunal diversity in all parts of the country as well as different eco-zones. The scientists undertake every year nearly 160 surveys in different ecosystems. The ZSI is also deputing scientists in Indian Antarctic Scientific Expedition and till date 11 Scientists successfully completed the expedition. They have described seven new species to science and several new records of animal of species from Antarctic continent. Based on the survey and explorations, scientists and naturalists of Zoological Survey of India brought our authenticated document on different group animal under “Fauna of India” (Formerly Fauna of British India) series containing the description of known animals in the country.
During recent years, the scope and functions of the Zoological Survey of India have been considerably expanded, particular in the light of the Convention on Biological ratified by Govt. of India in 1994 with special reference to Articles 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,17,18,or 41 of the Convention. In the light of the above, the objectives and implementation strategies for the Eleventh Five Year Plan are given below:
1. Exploration, Survey, Inventorisation Monitoring of Fauna Diversity in various states, some selected ecosystems and protected areas of India.
2. Status survey of Threatened and Endemic species
3. Taxonomic studies of all faunal comments collected.
4. Preparation of Red Data Book, Fauna of India and Fauna of states.
5. Bio-ecological studies on some important communities/ species.
6. Preparation of database for the recorded species of the country.
7. Maintenance & Development of National Zoological collections.
8. Training, Capacity Building and Human Resource Development.
9. Faunal Identification Advisory series and Library Services.
10. Publication of results including Fauna of States.
In the Eleventh Five Year Plan period, the following ongoing and new programmes have been proposed, largely to objective described as under.
Programmes under implementation:
1. Exploration and Survey of States Fauna (District-wise),
2. Studies on selected ecosystems of Indian Region,
3. Survey of protected Area including Tiger Reserves and to take up the programme on the principles of Rapid Assessment Survey to explore more number of Protected Areas (within the time limit)
4. Taxonomic studies of Faunal Components (of all the above group)
5. Status survey of Endangered species, including the revision of procedures for Schedule animal biased on the IUCN Guidelines
6. Publication of Red Data Book and Fauna of Indian Volumes.
7. Computerization of data Faunal diversity including National Zoological Collections, (including the Digitisation on type and National Zoological collections)
8. Documentation and publications.
9. Training and Extension Services.
NEW PROGRAMMES
1. Survey and Inventorisation of Marine Bio-diversity.
2. Establishment of new unit at Jamnagar, Gujarat to assess the faunal diversity of Marine Protected Area, Desert ecosystems
3. Establishment if new unit at Gangtok, Sikkim to assess the faunal diversity of Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve, monitor the diversity and distribution of the faunal elements of the Eastern Himalayan which is one of the Indian Hot spot.
4. Monitoring the status of selected animals included in the Wildlife Schedules.
5. Development of Taxonomic expertise in the form of Human Resources development.