**Executive Summary**
The foundation stone was laid on February 22, 2026, for the Western Ghats Faunal Repository, Museum and Auditorium at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Western Regional Centre, Pune. This new infrastructure will serve as a faunal diversity hub, documenting and conserving the biodiversity of the Western Ghats. The facility will also function as a Wildlife Forensic Support Facility.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Repository Purpose and Construction:**
* The repository is being constructed to preserve animal specimens from the Western Ghats region.
* It will house specimens from diverse faunal groups (Insects, Molluscs, Fishes, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals, etc.).
* It is designed with modern preservation facilities for long-term conservation of original specimens.
* **Repository Functions:**
* Provide a strong foundation for taxonomic and systematic research.
* Serve as a reference center for biodiversity assessments and conservation policy formulation.
* Facilitate scientific documentation of rare, endemic, and threatened species.
* Develop a comprehensive digital database for global accessibility of faunal information.
* Offer educational and exhibition facilities for students, researchers, and the public.
* Promote science communication, awareness, and biodiversity conservation through museum specimens.
* **Wildlife Forensic Support Facility:**
* The center will function as a Wildlife Forensic Support Facility.
* It will offer identification and advisory services on confiscated wildlife animals/their material.
* It will assist enforcement agencies (Maharashtra Police, Forest Department, Customs Department, etc.).
**Impact Analysis**
**Students/Researchers**
* **Impact:** The new infrastructure planned in such a way that it will become a Faunal diversity hub for students who want to take up their education and career in the Faunal diversity related studies. Educational and exhibition facilities for students, researchers, and the public will be available.
* **Action Required:** Use the research data and educational opportunities.
**Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)**
* **Impact:** The establishment strengthens national biodiversity documentation programs and provides scientific evidence for conservation planning.
* **Action Required:** Manage and operate the facility to fulfill its intended functions.
**Enforcement Agencies (Maharashtra Police, Forest Department, Customs Department, etc.)**
* **Impact:** Access to a Wildlife Forensic Support Facility for identification and advisory services.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the facility for wildlife law enforcement and conservation actions.
**General Public**
* **Impact:** Increased awareness and understanding of biodiversity and conservation through museum specimens.
* **Action Required:** Engage with the educational resources and exhibits offered by the facility.
Key Entities Referenced
Western Ghats: A major biodiversity hotspot where the Faunal Repository aims to enhance biodiversity documentation and conservation.
Western Ghats Faunal Repository, Museum and Auditorium: A scientific infrastructure dedicated to documentation, conservation, and study of the biodiversity of the Western Ghats.
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI): The organization responsible for establishing the Western Ghats Faunal Repository.
Pune: Location of the Western Regional Centre of ZSI and the new Faunal Repository; poised to become a leading center for faunal diversity research.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The government ministry that oversees the Zoological Survey of India, under which the faunal repository falls.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Foundation Stone Laid for the Western Ghats
Faunal Repository, Museum and Auditorium at
the Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional
Centre, Pune
A faunal diversity hub in the making in Pune
Posted On: 22 FEB 2026 11:58AM by PIB Mumbai
Pune, 22 February 2026
The foundation stone for the Western Ghats Faunal Repository, Museum and Auditorium was laid
today at the Western Regional Centre, Pune, by Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, Director, Zoological Survey
of India (ZSI).The upcoming “Western Ghats Faunal Repository and Auditorium” will be a state-of-the-art
scientific infrastructure dedicated to the documentation, conservation, and study of the rich and
unique biodiversity of the Western Ghats—one of the world’s globally recognized biodiversity
hotspots.
About the Repository
The repository is being constructed to safely preserve lakhs of invaluable animal specimens
collected from the Western Ghats region. It will house representative specimens from diverse
faunal groups, including: Insects, Molluscs, Fishes, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals etc.
“It is to be designed with modern preservation facilities, the repository will ensure long-term
conservation of original specimens, which serve as the backbone for taxonomy and systematic
research” said Dr Dhriti Banerjee, Director, ZSI. She further added that the new infrastructure is
planned in such a way that it will become a Faunal diversity hub for students who want to take
up their education and career in the Faunal diversity related studies.
Scientific and Educational Significance of the repositoryThe Western Ghats Faunal Repository will be useful to: 1. Provide a strong foundation for
taxonomic and systematic research; 2. It will serve as a reference centre for biodiversity
assessments and conservation policy formulation; 3. It will facilitate the scientific documentation
of rare, endemic, and threatened species; 4. Develop a comprehensive digital database for
global accessibility of faunal information; 5. It will offer educational and exhibition facilities for
students, researchers, and the general public and 6. It will promote science communication,
awareness, and biodiversity conservation through museum specimens.
The Western Ghats, recognized as one of the world’s major biodiversity hotspots, are home to
numerous endemic and threatened species. “This faunal repository will significantly strengthen
national biodiversity documentation programmes and provide robust scientific evidence for
conservation planning” said Dr Basudev Tripathy, Scientist-E and Officer-in-Charge, ZSI, WRC,
Pune. The centre will also function as a Wildlife Forensic Support Facility, offering identification
and advisory services on various confiscated wildlife animals/their material to support wildlife
law enforcement and conservation actions. It will assist enforcement agencies such as:
Maharashtra Police, Forest Department, Customs Department, etc.
By integrating research, conservation, education, and forensic expertise under one roof, the
Western Ghats Faunal Repository will significantly enhance India’s biodiversity documentation
and conservation efforts.
With this initiative, Pune is poised to emerge as a leading centre for faunal diversity research
and scientific excellence, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to protecting its natural heritage
for generations to come.
Contact:
Officer-in-Charge,
Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre,
Akurdi, PCNT Post,Pune-411 044, Maharashtra
020-25655213 020-27652564
wrc@zsi.gov.in https://zsi.gov.in
@zsiwrcpune https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089571687180Old Museum and Building of Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre,
Pune
* * *
PIB Mumbai | Neha Kulkarni/Darshana Rane
Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai /PIBMumbai /pibmumbai pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com /PIBMu
mbai /pibmumbai
(Release ID: 2231440) Visitor Counter : 51
Read this release in: Marathi