About us

The Desert Regional Centre of the Zoological Survey of India, Jodhpur was established in 14th June, 1960 in the name of Desert and Gangetic Plains Regional Station under Second Five Year Plan to survey the faunal diversity of Desert Biome. Later, in 1965 due to the characteristics changes in its boundaries, it was renamed as Desert Regional Station and at present in 2009 it was further renamed as Desert Regional Centre. The present jurisdiction of the Centre has unique and rich habitat diversity. The Centre was created to conduct survey and explore the faunal resources of both Rajasthan and Gujarat States.

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Area under Jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of the Centre is spread over 3,42,239 Km2 area of Rajasthan and 1,81,100 Km2 of Gujarat, covering 33 Districts of Rajasthan and 25 Districts of Gujarat. The area encompasses 6 National Parks, 44 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 2 Tiger Reserves and 2 Ramsar Sites.

Holdings (National Zoological Collection)

  • Total holdings: 48,769.
  • Identified: 12,161.

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Major Projects

  • Fauna of India- Coleoptera (Family Gyrinidae and Family Haliplidae).
  • Handbook Indian Snakes.
  • Handbook Indian Testudines.
  • Handbook Indian Lizards.
  • Fauna of Indian- Reptilia- Testudines and Crocodilians (Volume-I).
  • Fauna of Indian- Reptilia- Sauria (Volume-II).
  • Fauna of Indian- Reptilia- Serpentes (Volume-III).
  • A checklist of the Scale Insects and Mealybugs of South Asia.
  • Studies on Carabid Beetles of Rajasthan.
  • Studies on Carabid Beetles of Gujarat.
  • Status Survey of Chinkara and Desert Cat in Rajasthan
  • Bibliography of Rajasthan Fauna.
  • Fauna of Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan.
  • Fauna of Pichhola Lake, Rajasthan.
  • Studies on Ants (Formicidae) Fauna of Gujarat.
  • Studies on Plant and Soil Nematodes associated with crops of Economic Importance in Gujarat.
  • Habitat suitability analysis of Chinkara, Gazella bennetti in Rajasthan.
  • Geospatial Atlas for the wetland birds of Thar Desert, Rajasthan.
  • Fauna of Gujarat: Vertebrate (Part-I).
  • Fauna of Gujarat: Invertebrate (Part-II).
  • Qualitative and Quantitative Studies of Plant and Soil Nematodes associated with Crops of Economic Importance in Rajasthan.
  • Termite (Insecta: Isoptera) Fauna of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
  • Fauna of Desert National Park, Rajasthan.
  • Faunal Resources of Tal Chhaper Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan.
  • Ants (Formicidae) of Rajasthan.
  • Dung Beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Coprinae) of Thar Desert of Gujarat.
  • Dung Beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Coprinae) of Rajasthan.
  • Fauna of Nalsarovar Wetland, Gujarat.
  • Fauna of Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan.

    • Project sponsored by MoEF and DST:

  • “Studies on Faunal Diversity in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan” by DST.
  • “Studies on Testudines and Lizards inhabiting the foot hills of Aravallis from Beawar to Sirohi, Rajasthan” by DST.
  • “Inventorisation of faunal Resources in Protected Area of Rajasthan and Gujarat” by MoEF.
  • “All India Coordinated Project on Nematode Taxonomy (Capacity Building)” by MoEF.

    • Environmental Impact Assessment Studies conducted:

  • Gambheri River Dam Project, Chittorgarh District, Rajasthan in the year 1964.
  • Som Kamla Amba Project, Aspur Tehsil, Dungarpur district, Rajasthan in the year 1985.
  • Lignite Mining blocks of Kapurdi and Jalipa village of District Barmer, Rajasthan in the year 2008.
  • Hadla Lignite Mining Project, Bikaner, Rajasthan in the year 2010.
  • Heron Reservoir Project Lalpur Dam, Vedodara (Baroda) district, Gujarat in the year 1980.
  • Deo, Men, Rami and Ani dam, Panchmahal and Vadodara districts, Gujarat in the year, 1982.
  • Gama Irrigation Scheme, Kalol, Panchmahal District, Gujarat in the year 1984.
  • Panam Canal Head Power (1 x 1000 Km.), Panchmahal District, Gujarat in the year 1984.
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Significant Achievements

  • Faunal Diversity in the Thar Desert: Gaps in Research.
  • Fauna of India: Isoptera- Termites (Vol. I).
  • Fauna of India- Coleoptera (Family Gyrinidae and Family Haliplidae).
  • Fauna of India: Reptilia- Testudines and Crocodilians (Vol. I).
  • Fauna of India: Reptilia- Sauria (Vol-II).
  • Fauna of India: Reptilia- Serpentes (Vol.-III).
  • Handbook Indian Testudines.
  • Fauna of Gujarat: Vertebrate (Part-I).
  • Fauna of Gujarat: Invertebrate (Part-II).
  • A Hand book on Indian Snakes.
  • Status survey of Chinkara and Desert Cat in Rajasthan.
  • Geospatial Atlas for the wetland birds of Thar Desert, Rajasthan.
  • Fauna of Desert National Park, Rajasthan.
  • Fauna of Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan.
  • Fauna of Pichhola Lake, Rajasthan.
  • Termite (Insecta: Isoptera) fauna of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
  • Faunal Resources of Tal Chhaper Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan.
  • Plant and Soil Nematodes associated with crops of Economic Importance in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
  • Fauna of Nalsarovar Wetland, Gujarat.
  • Dung Beetles of Thar Desert of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
  • Fauna of Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan.
  • Impact of climate change on biodiversity and challenges in Thar Desert- Proceedings of National Seminar.
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Publications

The results of faunal exploration, survey and ecological studies have been published by the scientists through 589 scientific papers in national and international journals of repute. So far recorded 2,137 species of different faunal groups from Rajasthan and 2,473 species from Gujarat. Around 70 New species discovered so far (i.e. Isoptera: 19; Nematoda: 22; Acarina: 19; Coleoptera: 1; Hymenoptera: 5; Thysanoptera: 2 and Reptilia: 2).

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Museum

The regional Museum displays the representative fauna to elucidate the value of the animals in the desert ecosystem. On the occasion of Golden Jubilee celebration of ZSI, DRC, Jodhpur “Compact Insect Storage System/ Insectorium” is installed in the Museum for preservation of Insect Fauna on 9th July, 2010.

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Library

The library holds 3,389 books and more than 13,526 issues of 34 journals.

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Expertise Available

Dr. (Smt.) Padma Bohra, Scientist ‘D’   Officer-in-Charge
Dr. Gaurav Sharma, Scientist ‘C’
Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, Scientist ‘C’
Dr. Harinder Singh Banyal, Scientist ‘C’
Dr. Ram Sewak, Scientist ‘B’

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Contact Us

Officer-in-Charge
Zoological Survey Of India
Desert Regional Centre
Jhalamand, Pali Road, Jodhpur - 342005
Ph: 0291 - 2728551, 2726213
E.mail-

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Updated on-19,Oct 2011