This seashell display is no mirage
Feb 21, 2007 - 9:45:10 AM
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Surviving the extreme changes in the climate that the earth has undergone since, they have continued to evolve. Today, they flourish in a wide range of habitats, wider than that of most other animals and plants. But now they face a bigger threat from human beings by way of indiscriminate fishing and environmental pollution.
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By Anil Sharma, IANS,
[RxPG] Jaipur, Feb 21 - So what if you have to go miles in search of water in Rajasthan? In this state capital, you can find the most exquisite collection of seashells at a museum devoted to molluscs.
The little known Alice Garg National Seashells Museum displays around 3,000 species of seashells from around the world.
Physicist K.B. Garg, who set up the facility that is named after his wife, claims it is the only one of its kind for environmental education and natural history research in India.
'It all began with my father-in-law gifting his huge collection of seashells to my wife Alice on her 50th birthday. Soon it became a passion for us too. The collection became so large that there was no place in the house to keep them all. That's when we decided to open an exclusive museum,' Garg told IANS.
By now, the Gargs have used up all their savings on setting up the museum. 'So we've decided to convert it into a science centre for seashells,' adds Garg.
'It will not only help people to interpret the natural sea world but will also promote the understanding of evolution and diversity of these sea creatures amongst the people. It's the first of its kind in India.'
Being in a desert state, it would also help satisfy the natural curiosity people have about the sea and its fascinating inhabitants.
With the passage of time, the scientific understanding of seashells has evolved into a full-fledged scientific field - conchology or malacology - exclusively dedicated to their study and conservation. Zoologically, seashells are classified as Phylum Mollusca - molluscs that appeared on the planet some 600 million years ago.
Surviving the extreme changes in the climate that the earth has undergone since, they have continued to evolve. Today, they flourish in a wide range of habitats, wider than that of most other animals and plants. But now they face a bigger threat from human beings by way of indiscriminate fishing and environmental pollution.
Garg hopes to raise awareness about their conservation through the museum. Shell craft displayed in the museum are all made from seashells that are in no danger of extinction, says the enthusiast.
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