Current Research Projects
WGL is currently undertaking major research programmes on landscape genetic monitoring of Endangered Western hoolock gibbons and Asian elephants in the northeastern states of India. Besides, the laboratory is routinely working on wildlife forensic projects involving DNA analysis of various biological samples to assist the Govt. agencies, such as Assam Forest Department and Assam Police, provide incident response and crime scene sampling service and undertake capacity building initiatives in this regard for frontline staff of the forest department. Besides these major projects, the laboratory works routinely on developing various methodologies and required molecular markers for wildlife studies.
Landscape Genetic and Physiological Stress Monitoring of Western Hoolock Gibbons in Northeast India
WGL, with support from The Habitats Trust, has initiated landscape genetic monitoring of Western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) in the seven states of northeast India. The project aims to use DNA technology to identify source populations of gibbon, understand genetic structuring and gene flow in the landscape and develop methodology for genetic population estimation of the species in the wild. Monitoring of physiological stress in gibbons due to various levels of anthropogenic influence will also be determined through analysis of stress hormones from gibbon faecal samples (Faecal Glucocorticoids). The overall project has additional components on Remote Sensing & GIS work implemented by the Geospatial Technology & Application Division of Aaranyak and Capacity Buidling work implemented by the Primate Research & Conservation Division of Aaranyak.
KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Landscape Genetic Approach to Asian Elephant Population Monitoring in Northeast India
WGL, in collaboration with Elephant Research & Conservation Division of Aaranyak, as initiated a long term project on using landscape genetic tools to undertake population genetic mapping of source populations and migration routes of elephants (Elephas maximus) in Northeast India. The project will use non-invasive genetic analysis to evaluate the efficacy of the identified corridors in facilitating demographic and genetic exchange of elephants in the landscape. The project work has been initiated from 2022 onwards and ecological and genetic data required for the study are currently being generated.
KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT
FUND THIS PROJECT
Wildlife Forensics Services in Assam
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), 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. 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.
The Environment, Forests & 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.
The major objectives of the work are:
-
To provide wildlife genetic and forensic DNA analysis service for the purpose of wildlife crime investigation and control.
-
To provide incident response service related to wildlife crime incidents including DNA sampling.
-
Training and consultation on collection of DNA evidences from the scene of crime and the scope of DNA analysis in Wildlife genetic and forensic analysis.
KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT
FUND THIS PROJECT
Conduct Multi-scale Approach to Adaptive Landscape Management and Conservation Planning in Assam
This is a project undertaken by Aaranyak where WGL is implementing multiple components of the project, including elephant landscape genetic analysis to Species Management Plan of White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) in Assam. This project is carried out by Aaranyak as part of a project of Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC) Society.
KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Past
Projects
Understanding the landscape level corridor connectivity of Asian elephant in Meghalaya
This project used ecological, GIS and genetic technology to assess the elephant corridors in the Garo Hills districts of the Meghalaya landscape, which will ensure better protection of elephants and their corridors. WGL conducted the genetic analysis work involving multilocus microsatellite genotyping of elephants from dung samples to evaluate the role of corridors on population genetic structure and gene flow in elephant
population across the study landscape. Both the genetic and spatially explicit data were combined to evaluate the effect of landscape features (geographic distance as well as habitat heterogeneity) as well as the presence of corridors on the observed genetic distances of elephant populations. WGL worked together with Elephant Research & Conservation Division and Geospatial Technology & Application Division of Aaranyak to undertake this study.
Population monitoring of Asian Rhino Species
WGL has pioneered population genetic monitoring of greater one-horned rhinos (Rhinoceros unicorns) in India since 2009, through assessment of contemporary levels and spatial distribution of genetic diversity in the rhino bearing protected areas of Assam and West Bengal. The laboratory also optimized and successful applied of methodology for genetic population estimation of rhinos using dung as a source of DNA. Together with the Rhino Research & Conservation Division of Aaranyak, WGL implemented a long term population genetic monitoring of rhinos in India from 2009 to 2015.
During 2012 to 2014, WGL worked jointly with Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta, IRF and WWF to monitor population status of Critically Endangered Javan (Rhinoceros sondaicus) and Sumatran rhinos (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) in Indonesia. WGL’s role in this work is to oversee the methodological aspects of genetic analysis and to provide technical guidance to the Researchers working in the laboratory of Eijkman Institute at Jakarta.
Population monitoring of tiger and other carnivores in Eastern India
In the year 2009, the laboratory worked in Orang National Park of Assam to standardise methodology for tiger population estimation employing genetic capture-recapture using a maximum likelihood based single session sampling design. Since then, the laboratory is working on tiger (Panthera tigris) population monitoring in various Tiger Reserves and other protected areas of Eastern India. So far, the laboratory has worked in Buxa Tiger Reserve of West Bengal, Palamau Tiger Reserve of Jharkhand, Dampa Tiger Reserve of Mizoram, Namdapha and Pakke Tiger Reserve of Arunachal Pradesh and Manas Tiger Reserve of Assam to use non-invasive genetic monitoring of tiger populations.
Ecology of Tigers in North Bengal – During 2018-19, WGL undertook assessment of tiger population in the Protected Areas network of North Bengal and study ecological aspects such as population dynamics, prey-predator relationships, territoriality and home range related aspects and finally to develop a tiger conservation plan for the landscape for West Bengal Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Project (WBFBCP), Govt. of West Bengal. The project included mapping of tiger presence and distribution in the PA network of North Bengal using sign survey and genetic sampling based species identification of genuine tiger samples and subsequent population estimation using genetic capture recapture.
Ecology of Leopards in North Bengal – The project, implemented during 2018-2021 and commissioned by West Bengal Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Project (WBFBCP), Govt. of West Bengal. Primarily focussed on assessment of leopard (Panthera pardus)population status in North Bengal, assessment of leopard distribution, prey preferences and most importantly to investigate the driving factors of human leopard conflict, in order to develop a leopard management plan for the landscape. The project followed a grid based survey of leopard presence through questionnaire, sign survey and non-invasive genetic sampling as well as assessment of human leopard conflict intensities through questionnaire and secondary information collection.
Monitoring distribution of small carnivore species – Besides large carnivores such as tiger and leopard, non-invasive genetic sampling based surveys for species presence and distribution in several remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram.
Genetic Monitoring of White-bellied Heron in Bhutan
WGL has collaborated with Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN), Bhutan to work on Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) population in Bhutan during 2014-2019. Samples used in this study were collected by RSPN Biologists during nest monitoring of this species in some of the known localities within Bhutan. The study has led to assessment of mitochondrial genetic diversity of the species in Bhutan, assessing phylogenetic status and looking at historical demography of the species, providing answers to some of the key questions pertaining to conservation strategy development.
Photo Credit - Dr. Ranjan Kumar Das
