Sir,
As per reports in media, University Grants Commission (UGC) has ordered ban on dissection of animals in Zoology Labs. at undergraduate and post graduate levels. Instead, the students of Zoology shall be taught anatomy of animals through models, computer based simulators and virtual labs. No doubt, it will be modern methods of teaching. But Zoology being a science subject demands close contact of the learner with subject. In Sciences, lab practicals bring the learner closer to the knowledge of the learning material. There is philosophy behind handling of the animals in Zoology labs. True, a large number of dissection animals are required in the college and university labs. across the country but this is not going to disturb the ecological balance as these animals have fast rate of reproduction. Reasons for the depletion of populations of the lab. animals are different.
As UGC has ordered ban on dissections, the syllabus at different levels shall have to be restructured. It is hoped that educationists of Biosciences would be entrusted the job of restructuring the syllabus. The People for Ethical Treatment (PETA) to animals may allow the Bioscientists to frame a modern syllabus which may take care of the animals and ethics.
Meanwhile, PETA may concentrate on the shabby treatment given to the poor, papers and helpless in human society, unclaimed animals, like dogs, cats, cattle in streets and roadside.
Yours etc…
Anmol Singh
Simbal-3, R S Pura
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