Calcutta, Aug.

Mad-cow, bird-flu or swine-flu - the world is more than familiar with “human-animal diseases”.

Mumbai: The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has banned the use of live animals in dissection and other experiments in educational and research institutions.

Animal rights group People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Tuesday demanded a ban on dissection in zoology classes in universities and colleges.

The 16th Biennial International Zoological Conference began at Kazi Nazrul Islam auditorium of Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday. The theme of the three-day conference is 'Natural resources conservation: Zoological perspective'. Department of Zoology of Rajshahi University organised the conference. Quazi Azhar Ali, vice-chancellor of Bangladesh University, attended the inaugural session as the chief guest. RU Vice Chancellor Prof Altaf Hossain also chairman of organising committee of the conference delivered the welcome address while Zoology department Chairman Prof Abdul Mannan presided over the inaugural ceremony. A total of 100 researchers of zoology will present their research papers during the conference.

Far from being a safe heaven, Bhubaneshwar's Nandankanan Zoological Park has become a graveyard for the tigers. In the past one year, more than 15 tigers have died in the park. On July 5, 2001,