JALUKBARI, Nov 29 - The Department of Zoology, Gauhati University, organised the closing ceremony of its golden jubilee celebration on Saturday at its newly-built aquaculture and biodiversity centre at the university campus. During the year-long celebration, the department organised seminars, workshops and lectures by prominent zoologists, ecologists and oncologists.
The closing ceremony started with an awareness rally on biodiversity conservation, the participants being the students, research scholars, members of the faculty and alumni of the department. Thereafter, an alumni meet was organised, which was attended by several noted alumni of the department, some of whom are engaged in pioneering research in the field of biological conservation and management. Senior professors, several heads of departments, principals and research scholars from premier institutions like Cotton College, B Borooah College, Handique Girls� College, Diphu College, IASST, etc., were also present.
An integrated ornamental fish farming unit, set up by the department with funding from the National Fishery Development Board, Hyderabad, was inaugurated by KN Kumar, Chief Executive of the National Fishery Developmental Board. As many as 70 ornamental fish species are available in the unit, which will be reared as these species are rare and endangered due to illegal trapping from their natural habitats in large quantities.
The aquaculture centre is an effort in significantly expanding the breeding programmes of indigenous fish species of different regions of India, as well as an important measure to popularise ornamental fish farming in the NE region of India. Kumar appreciated the efforts as he was aware of the infinite scope the region has on its stock of ornamental fish species.
The ornamental fish farming unit is also supported by the NFDB (Regional Centre, Guwahati), CIFRI (Regional Centre, Guwahati), State Fishery Department, Haflong Government College, Uldalguri College and Gossaigaon College. The initiative was perhaps a unique focal point of Saturday�s event because the GU is one of the few exceptional universities in India where such initiatives have taken place.
The other distinguished guests present on the occasion included Dr Mridul Hazarika, Vice Chancellor, GU; Dr HP Sharma, Rector, GU; the Director and Principal Secretary of Fishery Dr Suresh Kumar Nath; Registrar, GU, Dr Hemanta Kumar Nath; Secretary, University Classes, Prof Jogen Chandra Kalita; Prof Prasanta Kumar Saikia; Prof Jatin Kalita and Prof Karabi Dutta, head, Department of Zoology, GU.
The departmental journal, Tropical Zoology, was released by Prof HP Sarma.
During the event, one minute�s silence was observed as a mark of respect for late Professor Umesh Chandra Goswami, who dedicated a lot of time and effort in establishing the department.
Several cultural programmes depicting the social and cultural fabric of Assam and its adjoining areas were presented by the students of the Zoology Department.
