Tamil Nadu to get first-of-its-kind National History Museum shortly

The Advanced Institute for Wildlife Research and Conservation (AIWRC) in Vandalur, a brainchild of former CM J Jayalalithaa has envisaged a proposal to keep the wildlife temperament alive in Tamil Nadu for the next five years through its long-term plan.

“AIWRC mooted in 2013 is slowly gaining shape had also planned to intensify the wildlife research in the next year and if its proposals take shape the centre will soon have senior scientists and eminent biologists on its roll. However, the proposal is pending before the state as the ambitious project awaits the consent at a time when the state is hit by financial crunch,” informed wildlife sources said. The National history museum will have life size specimens of endangered wild animals. As many as 50 life size 3D models of mammals, birds, reptiles, particularly the rare and extinct species are to be housed in the museum. Besides models on species threatened due to climate change and habitat loss are also to be part of the AIWRC and the proposed museum, sources said. 

When contacted, AIWRC director and additional principal conservator of forests Shekhar Niraj said the centre has come out with an action plan for development and research for the next five years. The basic planning has been completed in the current year and the proposals are now awaiting clearance from state government and forest headquarters. “Creating of virtual zoo, geological timescale, exposure to Tamil Nadu biodiversity and in-house taxidermy section with interactive taxidermy facility for visitors are also proposed,” he said. When asked about the delay in setting up centres planned in the 2013 government order, the officer explained that to establish a research centre it takes a lot of time. A proposal on the formation of Society for AIWRC has also been submitted to the headquarters for approval, he said.

On the research front, Shekhar added that the centre has started the morphological analysis of endangered animals including Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Indian Gaur.