A two-day national seminar, organized under the aegis of the School of Wildlife Forensic and Health at Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University (NDVSU), Jabalpur, commenced on March 17, 2025. Sponsored by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, the seminar focuses on the topic "Viral and Bacterial Metagenomic Analysis in Scat of Wild Tigers of Madhya Pradesh." Veterinary officers from various national parks across the state and faculty members from veterinary colleges are participating in the seminar. The primary objective of the event is to conduct metagenomic analysis of viral and bacterial content in tiger scat found in the state’s national parks.
The seminar was inaugurated by the Honorable Vice-Chancellor of NDVSU, Prof. (Dr.) Mandeep Sharma, as the chief guest. Keynote speakers included Dr. A.B. Srivastava, former Director of the School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, Jabalpur; Dr. Rakesh Mishra, Director of TIGS, Bengaluru; Dr. Sandeep Goyal, Scientist at NIAB, Hyderabad; and Dr. A.K. Sharma, Laboratory Head at Vantara. They elaborated on the seminar’s core subject and discussed recent advancements in related research.
Prominent university officials present at the event included Dr. S.K. Joshi, Director of Research Services; Dr. Sunil Nayak, Director of Extension; Dr. Madhu Swami, Director of Teaching; Dr. R.K. Sharma, Dean of the College of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Jabalpur; Dr. Aditya Mishra, Dean of Student Welfare; and Dr. Shobha Javare, Director of the School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, NDVSU, Jabalpur.
The seminar was coordinated by Dr. Kajal Kumar Jadhav, with active participation from university officials and faculty members of the School of Wildlife Forensic and Health. The event proceedings were conducted by Dr. Nidhi Rajput, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Devendra Podhade.
The seminar aims to strengthen research capabilities and enhance scientific understanding of viral and bacterial pathogens in tiger populations, contributing to improved wildlife conservation efforts in Madhya Pradesh.
