There was a time when the national park rangers did not need visuals to monitor the deer population in the Margalla Hills – a significant number of footprints around water bodies indicated that their population was steady if not growing rapidly. But this was four to five years back.

KOIDA (SUNDARGARH): Forced by declining returns from farming in ecologically fragile areas and virtually no regular labour-intensive jobs, several villagers have been taking to goat farming -- goatery. Goats ensure income to nearly 25 families of Bahamba village in Koida block.

For these extremely poor families in the Maoist-infested block it was a modest beginning to make ends meet with the help of Barsuan Iron Mines (BIM) of SAIL.

The woolly marvel A sheep, Dolly, was the first to be cloned 15 years ago. Since then, Snappy (dog), CC (cat) and Garima and Samrupra (buffaloes) have been cloned in South Korea, US and India. Cloning technology now can pre-determine the gender
Handmade procedure followed in Kashmir said to be cheaper, simpler and less time-consuming

It took two years to clone Noorie, but the next cloned Pashmina goat will take birth just six months later.

After hectic research over three years, six scientists and three researchers at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST) have managed to clone a Pashmina goat — the first in the world. The goat has been named Noori (light) and the scientists say the animal is in good health and has gained more than 500 grams since her birth on March 9. “This is a great scientific achievement in the field of veterinary sciences.

The State government has sanctioned a total of Rs. 1,157 crore for free distribution of milch cows, goats and sheep to the rural poor.

Of the total amount, the scheme for free distribution of milch cows accounts for Rs. 232 crore and for goats and sheep Rs. 925 crore. All these amounts are to be spent over the next five years.

The three-day workshop for those involved in goat rearing organised by the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) concluded in Dehradun on Thursday. Local residents engaged in goat rearing participated in the workshop which was coordinator by senior social activist Jaipal Singh Chauhan.

Himani Purohit convened the concluding session of the workshop.

Hardik Shah | TNN

Vapi: Goat plague has killed at least 400 goats and sheep in Vapi in the past 10 days.

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