Scientists at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) have used artificial insemination, a technique commonly applied to domesticated animals but never in conservation of wildlife, to produce a spotted deer fawn, which they have named "Spotty".

Researchers at CCMB are exulting over India's first artificial insemination (AI) success story in the wildlife arena, which could lead to a breakthrough in conservation of endangered species. CCMB director, Dr Lalji Singh, disclosed the development early this week. This is part of the CCMB's Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) project.

With this unique achievement of CCMB, India joins the US and Australia in select club of countries that have achieved birth of a live fawn using the non-invasive procedure.

The primary objective of LaCONES is to conserve endangered animals of India by using modern techniques of DNA finger printing, genetic polymorphism analysis and assisted reproductive techniques such as artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, cryo-banking of DNA, cells and tissues and eventually somatic cell cloning.

LaCONES project is sponsored by the Central Zoo Authority, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India; Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology; and Departments of Biotechnology and Forests, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

CCMB has spent about Rs 14 crore for establishing the lab, breeding and procuring equipment for the lab at Hyderabad for this purpose and has sought for an additional Rs 2 crore from Government of Andhra Pradesh, which is awaited.