Lahaul & Spiti, August 02, 2022. The first Women Scientist Faunal Expedition of Zoological Survey of India was flagged off to Lahul Velley from Koksar, near the Atal tunnel by the director of Zoological Survey of India, Dr. Dhriti Banerje yesterday.
The 15 day expedition will explore the endangered and endemic faunal diversity from an altitude of 2800 m to 5800 m. The Lahaul valley is a remote terrain of High altitudes of Himalaya with rough climatic conditions. The survey will include far flung valleys ( Miyar valley, Udipur and Ghepan valley, Sissu), passes (Baralacha pass and Shinkula pass), fresh water lake of Suraj Tal and trans Himalayan Tract of Sarchu, Cchatru, Chota Dara and Batal. These are the high altitude tough tracts where even males avoid going.
The “First Women Scientist Faunal Expedition to Lahaul Valley, District Lahaul & Spiti (HP): The Remote High Altitude Himalayan Ecosystem” is being organized to encourage the women scientists of Zoological Survey of India to participate in such expeditions in future also. While flagging off the team on survey, the director of Zoological Survey of India, Dr. Dhriti Banerje said that It will boost the morale of women scientists covering this tough tract.
The women scientists included in this expedition are : Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, Director and Scientist-G, Zoological Survey of India (working in group Diptera including flies), Dr. Debashree Dam, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, (working on Fossils and Hemiptera), Dr. Avtar Kaur Sidhu, Zoological Survey of India, Solan (working on mammals and butterflies), Dr. Indu Sharma, ZSI, Jodhpur (working on Fishes, Birds and Herptofauna), Dr. Jeepa Jaiwal, ZSI, Hydrabad (working on Aquatic insects), Dr. Shanta Bala Gurumayan, ZSI, Itanagar (working on mollusca), Dr. Aparna Kalawati (working on moth).
Zoological Survey of India is a prestigious institute of our country, established in July 1916 and this month has completed its 107 years. Dr. Dhriti Banerjee joined as the first women director of Zoological Survey of India in 2021 and she will be completing her first year as Director in August, 2022.
