Museum call to preserve fossils; prevent a second extinction - Times of India

KOLKATA: Around 200 scientists are pressing for a national museum of natural history in India on the lines of the Smithsonian National History Museum in Washington DC to preserve 'orphan collections'. These are fossils and other geological objects excavated by researchers of various institutes who have since retired that risk becoming extinct again. According to Devapriya Chattopadhyay, earth sciences department at Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER), Kolkata, paleontologists from India and abroad have already held a series of meetings on the issue. She and geologist Nigel C Hughes from California University are also part of a Facebook community working on modalities to give the museum a shape. "Though the national museum is still an idea, it is critical that become s a reality soon because many Indian scientists who have built fabulous collections will retire in four-five years. It is vital that the invaluable collections are not lost," said Hughes who has been researching on Cambrian rocks in the Himalayas for over two decades. Cambrian rocks date back to 500 million years when fossils became obvious in rocks formed throughout the Himalayan region. Fossils from some regions like Deccan plateau and Kutch date back to 3,500 million years and are crucial to understand the patterns of evolution and extinction. Subhendu Bardhan of Jadavpur University, who is set to retire in three years, is worried about the fate of the fossil collection thereafter. "It will be a tragedy if the meticulous collection that I have assiduously made over 40 years is lost. That's like the fossil of 158 million-year-old dinosaur bone becoming extinct a second time. Priceless collections of Hem Chandra Dasgupta and Kanhailal Chakraborty have similarly been frittered away," he rued. Chakraborty's rare mineral and rock collection at JU was thrown away while the fossils that Dasgupta had at Presidency got pilfered. "I believe some specimens were lost when they were shifted for renovation. But a major portion was stolen," said Kalyan Haldar of Presidency University, who made a futile search for Dasgupta's famed collection. Even his immediate senior Anish Roy's collection met a similar fate. Roy, who built a small but interesting collection of single cell organisms and invertebrates in Kutch that is now lost, says little can be done unless there's greater awareness. Delhi University geologist GVR Prasad agrees. "We have no place to display our prehistoric treasures that constitute our natural heritage to educate the people," he said. Devapriya Chattopadhyay, who did most of the post-graduate work in the US and Europe before joining IISER, knows what the loss means. She openly admits but for the stint abroad, she would never have completed the research as there is no data available in India due to absence of museums. "Museums are extremely valuable repositories. The absence of museums in India is hampering research and affecting scientific progress. I have therefore, been at the forefront of the demand for a natural history museum," she said. Incidentally, Indian Statistical Institute has one of the best specimens of a complete dinosaur skeleton in the country. But few know about it and fewer still have access. Geolo gical Society of India (GSI) has a well-catalogued collection but has neither the mandate, nor the resource to accommodate private collections. Hence, the doubt over the fate of pioneering research like that of Sunil Bajpai on evolution of whales from aquatic artiodactyls currently preserved at IIT Roorkee. "When a new person comes in and has a different area of interest, the institute does not have the commitment or resources to look after earlier fossils. If Bajpai's collection is lost, it will be a terrible shame," said Hughes. There are a few dozen institutes spread across the country that possess thousands of specimens representing millions of man hours spent to make the discoveries. GSI director Sabyasachi Som, a student of Bardhan, says policy makers need to act on the matter as too many fossils and specimens are getting lost. "When fossils or skeletons of big animals like dinosaurs are excavated, there's a lot of excitement. But smaller specimen s that are as important rarely get the desired attention. Yet, the latter is likely to get lost more easily and needs better preservation. As a student of paleontology, I am saddened by the plight of orphan collections," said Som. via Science - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGVKgGkzwIZto8sG2Q9kBspWAX0Nw&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Museum-call-to-preserve-fossils-prevent-a-second-extinction/articleshow/22142895.cms

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