Background
Wildlife Genetics Laboratory (WGL) was established in the year 2008 in Guwahati, Assam by Aaranyak, a Non-Government Organization registered under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 in India and a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization recognized by Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Government of India. . Establishment of the laboratory was a pioneering step towards the application of modern molecular genetic techniques in the field of wildlife research in Northeast India. WGL is is equipped to undertake high-throughput DNA analysis of wildlife samples for non- diagnostic population genetic research. WGL, Aaranyak is the only laboratory facility dedicated to conservation genetics work in Northeast India at present.
WGL functions under the Wildlife Genetics Division of Aaranyak. Aaranyak's mission is to foster conservation of biodiversity in Northeast India through research, environmental education, capacity building and advocacy for legal and policy reform to usher a new era of ecological security. Aaranyak is Registered under 12A of Income Tax Act of 1961 – Exempted from payment of income tax and Registered under 80G of Income Tax Act of 1961 – Donations made to Aaranyak in India carry tax exemption. Aaranyak is also registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act of 1976 – entitles Aaranyak to receive foreign contribution.
WGL, Aaranyak has been offering wildlife genetics and forensic DNA analysis service to Assam Forest Department, following approval of the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Govt. of Assam in 2014 as a facility for wildlife genetic and forensic DNA analysis in the state of Assam. Assistance in crime scene investigations and DNA sampling has also been provided by laboratory experts to Assam Forest Department and Assam Police on the ground. In addition, the laboratory has conducted multiple studies on conservation genetics of threatened fauna and biodiversity studies in India.
Milestones
2025 - Govt. recognition to WGL under BNSS 2023
The Environment, Forests and Climate Change Department, Government of Assam vide Memo. E. 656643/523 dated 4th August 2025 has notified Wildlife Genetics Laboratory, Aaranyak and Mr. Udayan Borthakur, Director and Head, Wildlife Genetics Division, Aaranyak under Section 329 (4) of BNSS 2023 to facilitate wildlife genetic and wildlife forensic analysis (Annexure I). WGL, Aaranyak is the first laboratory and expert to be recognized under the act in northeast India.
2018-2021 - First ever genetic population estimation of leopards in North Bengal
During 2018-2021 WGL carried out extensive study on the Leopard (Panthera pardus) population of North districts of state of West Bengal involving eight protected areas of the region. The study provided first ever genetic estimation of leopard population in the major protected areas of North Bengal and an insight into its distribution pattern, feeding habits as well as human-leopard conflict situation in the region. This helped in designing a leopard management plan for the landscape.
2015 - Major achievement in genetic monitoring of rhinos in India
In the year 2015, WGL carried out genetic assessment of greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicorns) population of India. The study provided insight into the contemporary levels of genetic diversity of the species for the first time across all the wild extant populations of India and showed presence of significant levels of genetic population structure among rhino populations of Assam and West Bengal. The study also helped in creating genetic database of rhino populations of India which critical for future forensic investigations.
2014 - Initiation of Wildlife forensic work in Assam
WGL, Aaranyak has started offering wildlife genetics and forensic DNA analysis service to Assam Forest Department, following approval of the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Govt. of Assam as a facility for wildlife genetic and forensic DNA analysis in the state of Assam, vide letter no. WL/FG/FORENSIC/2014 dated 28 April 2014.
2014 - Protocols for genetic monitoring of Asian elephants
In 2014, WGL standardised protocol for protocols for genetic individual identification of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), thereby opening possibilities of undertaking genetic population monitoring studies in the region.
2014 - Genetic monitoring of snow leopards in Bhutan
In the year 2014, WGD carried out analysis of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) faecal samples from Wangchuck Centennial Park of Bhutan and confirmed the presence of minimum 5 individuals in the area.
2014 - First every genetic assessment of White-bellied Heron
In the year 2014, WGL carried out genetic assessment of the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) population in Bhutan, in collaboration with the Royal Society for Protection of Nature, Bhutan. This study generated first ever genetic information of this species and important information on the genetic diversity in the wild, population history and phylogenetic status were obtained.
2014 - Genetic population estimation of tigers in Pakke TR
In the year 2014, WGL undertook genetic population monitoring of tiger (Panthera tigris) population in Pakke Tiger Reserve of Arunachal Pradesh. Field sampling for carnivore scats and genetic analysis in WGL confirmed existence of 8 individual tigers, with 3 females and 5 males in the area.
2013 - Carnivore monitoring in Garo Hills, Meghalaya
In the year 2013, WGL carried out study to assess the distribution of large and small carnivore species present in the Garo Hills, Meghalaya using noninvasive genetic tools.
2012-13 - Genetic population estimation of tigers in Manas NP
During 2012-13, WGL carried out extensive genetic population monitoring of tigers in Manas National Park, confirming the existence of 23 individual tigers in the area. As part of this work, a compartment wise sampling model was followed, where field staff of Manas National Park were trained and later genetic sampling were carried out by the Field Directorate, Manas Tiger Reserve.
2012 - Reconfirming tiger presence in Dampa TR
In the year 2012, WGL carried out genetic population monitoring of tigers in Dampa Tiger Reserve, Mizoram, jointly with the Field Directorate, Dampa and WWF-India. This study confirmed the presence of three tigers in the area, which nullified the uncertainty of tiger presence in Dampa due to long absence of scientific evidence.
2012 - First ever genetic census of rhinos in India
In the year 2012, WGL successfully carried out genetic census of Greater One-horned Rhinos in Gorumara National Park, West Bengal, reporting the presence of 43 individual rhinos with a sex ratio of nearly 4:1. This is first of its kind achievement for the species in the world.
2011 - Confirming tiger presence in Namdapha TR
In the year 2011, WGL confirmed the presence of tigers in Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, through genetic analysis of faecal samples collected by the Forest Department. This was the first confirmation of tigers remaining in the Tiger Reserve, after a decade long absence of scientific evidence.
2011 - Genetic population monitoring of tigers in Palamou TR
In the year 2011, WGL contributed to tiger population monitoring in Palamau Tiger Reserve, Jharkhand, through genetic analysis based identification of six individual tigers from faecal samples collected by Palamau Forest Department
2011 - Contributing to genetic population monitoring of Javan and Sumatran rhinos in Indonesia
In the year 2011, WGL started working with various international and local organizations in Indonesia such as YABI, Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, WWF and IRF to genetically monitor population status of Critically Endangered Javan (Rhinoceros sondaicus) and Sumatran rhinos (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) in the country. This is first ever detailed study on genetic population monitoring of these two rare mammals being carried out under the supervision of genetic expert from WGD.
2010 - Genetic population monitoring of tigers in Buxa TR
In the year 2010, WGL carried out tiger genetic population estimation in Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, identifying 15 tigers in the area. This became the first genetic based population monitoring work to be mentioned in the status report of tigers in India in the year 2010.
2009 - Successfully developed protocols for individual identification of rhinos from dung DNA samples
In the year 2009, WGL successfully developed protocols for genetic individual identification of Greater One-horned Rhinos from dung samples, thereby opening greater possibilities of undertaking genetic population monitoring of this species in its natural habitat.
2009 - First Single-session genetic capture recapture based population estimation of tigers
In the year 2009, WGL carried out genetic capture-recapture based population estimation of tigers in Orang National Park, which for the first time, successfully demonstrated the use of single-session sampling based capture-recapture model in population estimation of tigers. Such single session sampling based capture-recapture population estimation is useful in population monitoring in low density protected areas, especially with physically challenging terrains, where repeat sampling is extremely difficult.
2008 - Establishment of Wildlife Genetics Laboratory
Aaranyak made a pioneering effort in brining in conservation genetics to the northeaster states of India, through establishment of an in-house DNA laboratory in Guwahati. This was the first laboratory undertaking conservation genetic research on wildlife of the region, also the first at non-government organization level in India.
