Odisha’s OUAT Sets National First with NABL Accreditation for Wildlife Forensics Lab

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has achieved a significant milestone in wildlife science with the Centre for Wildlife Health at the College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT), becoming the first laboratory in the country to secure National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation for wildlife forensics and veterinary testing.

The accreditation, granted under the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard, makes the facility the first in India to receive NABL recognition exclusively for wildlife forensic testing, marking a major advancement in the country’s wildlife health and conservation ecosystem.

The Chief Minister’s Office hailed the achievement as a proud moment for Odisha, stating in a post on X that the accreditation would significantly strengthen the state’s capabilities in wildlife health surveillance, disease diagnosis and forensic investigations.

Officials said the recognition certifies that the laboratory meets internationally accepted standards of quality and technical competence, enabling it to deliver reliable scientific evidence for wildlife investigations and veterinary diagnostics.

The accredited laboratory is expected to play a vital role in supporting wildlife crime investigations, identifying disease outbreaks among wild animals and providing scientific assistance for biodiversity conservation. It will also strengthen the state’s capacity to respond to emerging wildlife health challenges through advanced diagnostic and forensic services.

With this achievement, Odisha has positioned itself as a pioneer in wildlife forensic science, providing a specialised facility that is expected to support conservation agencies, law enforcement authorities and research institutions across the country.