Delhi University has urged the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Environment Ministry to reconsider their decision of a ban on animal dissection, saying it is reducing zoology into a “dead discipline”.
The university’s Department of Zoology has written a letter to the UGC to limit the ban to the endangered species. “Students are just reading theory and are unable to do any practical experiments,” Neeta Sehgal, HoD, said in the letter.
In 2011, the UGC had imposed a partial ban on animal dissection and directed all universities and colleges to stop experiments on animals for training purposes for zoology and life sciences at the undergraduate level.
However, last year, the UGC had instructed all universities to ban dissection of animals for academic purposes at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
“No animal from any species shall be dissected, either by teachers or students for any purpose,” the UGC notification had said. The UGC had said that non-animal methods, including computer simulations, interactive CD-ROMs, films and lifelike models could be used to teach anatomy and complex biological processes. Institutions found violating the order can now be booked under the Wildlife Protection Act and also the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals Act.
“Anatomy cannot be taught merely by doing simulations on computers. If the students do not know the odour of an animal when it is dissected, how are they going to deal with it medically and continue with the process? Without practical training if they perform some surgery, they might be shaky. Technology cannot be a substitute for cutting through tissues to feel the texture of the viscera,” Ms. Sehgal said.
“The department is breeding its own animals. Then why can’t they be used for dissection purpose? How else will students learn about the anatomy of an animal?” asked Mamta, a student of M.Sc.
The university’s Department of Zoology has written a letter to the UGC to limit the ban to the endangered species. “Students are just reading theory and are unable to do any practical experiments,” Neeta Sehgal, HoD, said in the letter.
In 2011, the UGC had imposed a partial ban on animal dissection and directed all universities and colleges to stop experiments on animals for training purposes for zoology and life sciences at the undergraduate level.
However, last year, the UGC had instructed all universities to ban dissection of animals for academic purposes at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
“No animal from any species shall be dissected, either by teachers or students for any purpose,” the UGC notification had said. The UGC had said that non-animal methods, including computer simulations, interactive CD-ROMs, films and lifelike models could be used to teach anatomy and complex biological processes. Institutions found violating the order can now be booked under the Wildlife Protection Act and also the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals Act.
“Anatomy cannot be taught merely by doing simulations on computers. If the students do not know the odour of an animal when it is dissected, how are they going to deal with it medically and continue with the process? Without practical training if they perform some surgery, they might be shaky. Technology cannot be a substitute for cutting through tissues to feel the texture of the viscera,” Ms. Sehgal said.
“The department is breeding its own animals. Then why can’t they be used for dissection purpose? How else will students learn about the anatomy of an animal?” asked Mamta, a student of M.Sc.
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