In its 100th year, ZSI​ digitises 4500 publications

As part of its modernisation process, the organisation will digitise all its data, and this will cost around Rs 25 crore.

 

The organisation has started archiving its natural history and animal specimen records in digital format. Currently, ZSI claims to have digitised almost 4,500 publications amounting to over 3,00,000 pages.

 

This expansive collection of information will be accessible to the public at the click of a button through the Zoological Survey of India website http://zsi.gov.in/.

 

It owns roughly four million specimens of zoological interest.

 

The body also boasts of a humongous repository of manuscripts, books, aging illustrations, photos and various publications related to natural history. The oldest book presently in its possession was printed in 1547.

 

According to Dr K Venataraman, ZSI, digitised data from the 19th Century until today is ready to be uploaded to the organisation’s official website. Apart from being stored at the Kolkata headquarters, the documents are also being kept at 16 regional centres across India.

 

The Zoological Survey of India was established on 1 July 1916, to promote survey, exploration and research leading to the advancement in our knowledge of various aspects of the exceptionally rich life of the erstwhile ‘British Indian Empire’. The survey has its genesis in the establishment of the Zoological Section of the Indian Museum at Calcutta in 1875.

 

By gradually strengthening its staff and expanding its research programme, the Survey has met the challenge of the past and is on its way to meet the demands of the future.