The Smithsonian and India’s Central Zoo Authority have signed an agreement to launch a training programme to develop conservation strategies for endangered species in zoos in India.

Dennis Kelly, director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with D N Singh, member secretary of the Central Zoo Authority, at the National Zoo in the US last month.

The advanced training programme will host sessions led by scientists, veterinarians and other animal care professionals working at the National Zoo and the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

Training courses are designed for animal care professionals working in Indian zoos, with a wide range of topics as varied as preventative medicine to comprehensive animal nutrition. Scientists will also collaborate on wildlife health and disease surveillance, which will range from administering anaesthesia to animals in zoos and in the field, to containing and preventing the spread of contagious diseases in wild animals.

"I was lucky enough to travel to India last year and see critically endangered rhinos, and that experience was inspiring," said Dennis Kelly. "We have worked with colleagues in India for decades, and now with this programme we'll be collaborating even more closely to understand and protect endangered animals."

For the next year, the MoU will enable both the US and India to create a conservation strategies that integrate sustainable development practices for highly endangered species native to India. All of the research and training courses will be conducted in India.