MADRAS VETERINARY COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF WILD LIFE SCIENCES

1. GENESIS

The Department of Wildlife Science was established in 1994 to impart education in the field of wildlife science to veterinary students and started to offer a post-graduate course (M.V.Sc) in the field of wildlife science.
Among whole states in India, it is the first veterinary university that started a separate department for wild animals  in Madras Veterinary College. Many of the Indian states still don’t have separate department in the field of wildlife science.
The main objective of this department is to impart education on Wildlife Science with emphasis on wildlife health and disease management.

2. MISSION

• To impart education among veterinary students on various aspects of wildlife science emphasising on wildlife health
• For further advancements in both learning and research in wildlife health
• To identify the field related wildlife health problems liasoning with forest department authorities of this state and assisting in their scientific management
• To document wildlife health related information
• To determine the role of wildlife in transmission of zoonotic and anthropozoonotic diseases

3. ACTIVITIES

3.1 EDUCATION
The curricula of programmes have been designed to cater to the ever changing needs and demands of veterinary students’ perusing the wildlife science PG degree programme. The focus is on holistic learning and empowering students to make significant contributions at all levels.

The Department offers the following courses in the subject of wildlife science:

Course No.	Course Title	Credit Hours
Under Graduate Programme
LPM 312	Wild& zoo animal health care and management & Fish production	1+1
Post Graduate Programme (2 years) – M.V.Sc., degree
Post Graduate Diploma Programme (1 year)
Ph.D. in Wildlife Science

Since inception 23 students have successfully completed their M. V. Sc. It’s a matter of pride for the Department of wildlife science that all the students of the department are well placed in the state departments, SAU’s, various wildlife related sectors etc.
Apart from imparting classroom lectures and practical session to the undergraduate students, they will be undertaking six days-internship training programme at Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Guindy National park and Chennai snake park trust, Guindy.

BOOKS / MANUALS PREPARED BY THE DEPARTMENT

S.No.	Title
1	Wildlife Veterinary Manual
2	Manual on Wild and Zoo animal health care and management / fish production
3	Basic post-mortem requisites for zoo veterinarians
4	Colour Atlas on parasites of captive wild animals
5	Deer
6	Peacock
7	Glossaries in wildlife
8	Elephant Manual for field veterinarians
9	Captive elephant management (Tamil)

ELECTRONIC GUIDES DEVELOPED BY THE DEPARTMENT

S.No.	Title
1	Taxonomy of wild animals
2	E’ Guide to diagnostic sampling in zoo animals
3	E’ Guide for necropsy of Chimpanzee
4	E’ Guide on prolapsed genitalia in salt water crocodile
5	Digital presentation on parasitic fauna of wildlife
6	Digital-Field Guide for Vets on Important Avian Species

NUMBER OF UG STUDENTS PROJECTS MOTIVATED - 6 No
NUMBER OF INFORMATIVE BULLETINS PREPARED IN FIELD OF WILDLIFE SCIENCE - 6 Nos.

INNOVATIVE MATERIALS ASSOCIATED FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES

• Mouth gag for crocodiles
• Nilgiri Biosphere Model
• Squeeze cage Model
• Mongoose Trap Cage Model
• Immobilization equipment- model
• Laminated charts on wild fauna and diseases
• Pug marks with  real size of  wild animals 

3.2 RESEARCH
The department executed a number of Post-graduate Research Programmes, as quoted below:

• ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH STATUS IN FREE-RANGING ELEPHANTS OF TAMIL NADU STATE
• HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF ASIATIC WILD DOGS (Cuon alpinus) IN CAPTIVE AND FREE-RANGING AREAS
• ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH AND DISEASES IN CAPTIVE AND FERAL NON-HUMAN PRIMATES
• ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH AND DISEASES IN CAPTIVE BEARS
• ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH AND DISEASE STATUS IN CAPTIVE SNAKES AND MUGGER CROCODILES (Crocodylus palustris)
• HEALTH BASED ECOLOGICAL STUDY OF ELEPHANTS WITH EMPHASIS ON LICKS IN MUDUMALI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
• HEALTH STATUS OF WATER BIRDS IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICTS OF TAMILNADU
• STUDIES ON COMMONLY OCCURRING SPECIFIC DISEASES IN CAPTIVE LIONS (Panthera leo)
• STUDY ON MORPHOMETRIC INDICES AND CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF WOUNDS AND ABSCESSES IN CAPTIVE ASIATIC ELEPHANTS (Elephas maximus)
• HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF SEABIRDS IN LAKSHADWEEP EAST COASTAL REGION AND POINT CALIMERE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
• HAIR ANALYSIS IN WILD ANIMALS
• HEALTH BASED ECOLOGICAL STUDY IN SPOTTED DEER (Axis axis) AT MUDUMDALAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, TAMIL NADU
• STUDY ON CORTISOL AND PROGESTERONE LEVEL AND HEALTH RELAGTED PARAMETERS IN FEMALE ASIAN ELEPHANTS (Elephas maximus)
• SEXING OF BIRDS BY FIBREOPTIC LAPAROSCOPY
• BEHAVIOURAL AND HEALTH ASSESSMENT STUDIES ON FREE RANGING BLUE PEAFOWL (Pavo cristatus) IN SOUTH TAMILNADU
• EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HELMINTH PARASITES IN WILD AND DOMESTIC HERBIVORES AT THE MUDUMALAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, TAMILNADU
• REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR AND LEVELS OF FAECAL STEROIDS IN ENDANGERED CAPTIVE FELIDS
• PREVALENCE OF LEPTOSPIROSIS AND PARASITIC INFECTIONS IN FREE RANGING MONGOOSES AND RODENTS
• HAEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES IN CAPTIVE ASIATIC ELEPHANTS
• ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY, PULSE OXIMETRY AND CAPTURE RELATED ENZYME ANALYSIS IN CAPTIVE ASIATIC ELEPHANTS (Elephas maximus)
• EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ON WATER BIRDS AT VEDANTHANGAL BIRDS SANCTUARY - CHENNAI
• BEHAVIOURAL STUDIES ON CAPTIVE WILD-CARNIVORES AT ARIGNAR ANNA ZOOLOGICAL PARK – VANDALUR

3.3 EXTENSION
Wildlife Club of Madras Veterinary College was started with staff and students as members. With the guidance of staff of this department, the followings are the participatory works of this prestigious club of this college:

• To know about the wild animals and birds in nature as well as in captivity
• To come closer to know about the behaviour of various species of animals and birds in the zoological gardens and the free living wild animals and birds in the sanctuaries.
• To listen to the talks and discussions organized by the club with naturalists and wildlife authorities
• To participate in the wildlife camps and short trips, organized by the club at  the wildlife related spots
• To participate in the discussion organized with the zoo veterinarians and zoological parks in the management, care, breeding, diagnosis, treatment and preventive measures adopted for the captive wild animals and birds
• Conducting various competitions on conservation of wild animals like quiz contest, oratorical competition in English and Tamil, Drawing competition, poster designing competition, Rangoli competition etc.

4. SIGNIFICANT MEETINGS CONDUCTED BY THIS DEPARTMENT

4.1 International Conference on Wildlife Conservation
Various disease related features were brought to lime light by the International Conference on “Wildlife Conservation, Health and Disease Management-A Post Millennium Approach” conducted at Chennai, from 3rd to 5th February, 2010.  The international conference held was useful for interactions among scientists and this helped to enrich the conservation measures of endangered wild fauna. A total number of 240 delegates (221 national + 19 International) participated in the international conference. Murray.E.Fowler from USA is the distinguished visitor who shared his valuable and extinguished knowledge to the scientific community, gathered.

4.2 NATIONAL WORKSHOP FOR ZOO VETERINARIANS
            Central Zoo Authority of India and Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University organized a National Workshop on “Protocol for the Veterinary care and safety of wild animals during transportation with special reference to deer species” from 24th to 28th January 2011 for zoo veterinarians, arranged in collaboration with Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur at Madras Veterinary College, Chennai.

Twenty seven veterinarians from all over India participated & got benefitted in this workshop.

4.3 MEETING CONDUCTED FOR FIELD VETERINARIANS

1. Training programme on Wildlife Health  and Disease Investigation (Chennai)	TANUVAS	Chennai 18-2-02 to 23-2-02
2. Training in Wildlife science for MP state Froest Dept. Veterinarians	WILDLIFE INSTITUTE OF INDIA	9-7-01 to27-7-01

4.4 INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRAINING PROGRAMMES COMPLETED

1. Mentor for PG students from PURDUE University, USA in research on elephants	Purdue university, USA	Chennai 1999
2. Study Programme on Wildlife Science for PURDUE University students, USA	Purdue university, USA	Chennai 22-5-03 to 4-6-03

5. WILDLIFE REHABILITATION
            Wildlife enthusiastic persons rescued the wounded birds and handover the same to this department for treatment and rehabilitation. Hitherto, Pariah kite/Small Indian kites Barn owls etc.  were successfully rehabilitated, in different periods.

6. PROJECTS COMPLETED

Name of the project	Funding agency	Period of project
1.Development of an Indian Co-operative Wildlife Health Programme and Technical Assistance in Wildlife Institute of India’s Wildlife Health Research Project	Wildlife Institute of India	01-09-1995 to 30-09-2001
2.Retrospective Survey of diseases in free ranging and captive wild animals	Wildlife Institute of India	01-04-2000 to 30-11-2000
3.Strengthening of Madras Veterinary College as Nodal Centre of Wildlife Health and Disease Diagnosis	Central Zoo Authority of India, New Delhi	15-07-2002 to 31-03-2007
4. Health cover to captive wild  animals (Prolifically breeding wild animals) maintained at Arignar Anna Zoological Park	Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur	17-10-2007 to 17-10-2010
5 .Common foot ailments in captive Asian Elephants of South India	Central Zoo Authority New Delhi	18-02-2008 to 18-02-2010

7. PUBLICATIONS IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS :     35 nos.
8. POPULAR ARTICLES ABOUT WILD ANIMALS TO BENEFIT PUBLIC : 12 NOS

9. ALL INDIA RADIO PROGRAMMES AND TV PROGRAMMES
Many times, through All India Radio programmes, TV programmes and dailies, the   public were enlightened about wild animals, their health and diseases including the conservation measures and information. 

10. FACULTY

Name	Qualification
Dr.M.G.Jayathangaraj Professor and Head	M.V.Sc., Ph.D., Post Graduate Diploma in Wildlife Management,
Dr.K.Senthlikumar Assistant Professor	M.V.Sc.,
Dr.M.Palanivelrajan Assistant Professor	M.V.Sc.,

11. Contribution in the Central Zoo Authority related activities
Staff of this department participated in the evaluation of various zoos in India and participated in the CZA funded project works.