Name of the Programme: Master of Science (Wildlife Studies)

Total duration: 2 years (Four semesters)

Scope:
The importance of conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems has been recognized globally, especially in the context of global climate change and emerging infectious diseases of wild animal origin like COVID-19. With this has increased the demand for trained personnel with sufficient practical exposure to undertake multidisciplinary research at the human-wildlife-ecosystem interface as well as manage real life situations involving free ranging and captive wildlife. Master of Science (Wildlife Studies) plays a pivotal role for those who would like to turn from all mainstream bioscience fields towards the emerging field of conservation, which would ultimately be crucial for the survival of our species on this planet beyond a few decades.

KVASU Centre for Wildlife Studies (KVASU-CWS), Pookode, is located in Wayanad District, Kerala, which consists of a unique geographical region naturally blessed with a wide variety of flora and fauna. The district is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, a part of the Western Ghats declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and is a biodiversity hotspot. The location of KVASU-CWS in this forest rich district of Kerala makes it the ideal place for students who have a passion for wildlife to seek specialized training in the field.

The university launched this multidisciplinary and multi-organizational course in 2011 with five students. Thirty six students have completed the course by 2020. Alumni have been employed in various capacities in different organizations like Kerala State Forests Department, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Kerala State Biodiversity Board, WWF, SACON, NIAS, Wildlife Institute of India, Pilikula Zoo, Mumbai Zoo, UNDP etc. Other alumni have pursued higher studies at organizations like IISER, Central University of Kerala, IIITM-K, KVASU etc. Master of Science (Wildlife Studies) students are extremely passionate about multidisciplinary “One-Health Action” at the human-wildlife-ecosystem interface and are committed to ensuring social welfare and sustainable development of people while pursuing conservation action. Students are actively involved in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operations of the Centre as well as its social welfare activities involving tribal and other socio-economically backward communities, and farmers suffering from human-wildlife conflict. The Master of Science (Wildlife Studies) course also provides ample opportunities for the next generation conservationists to gain practical field skills at various natural ecosystems, zoos and wildlife sanctuaries of national importance. They also get a lot of scientific exposure by attending conferences and workshops as part of the course. The course is taught by experts from various departments of KVASU and extra-mural national/international experts in the field.

Pattern of course (Semester/annual): Semester

Mode of teaching (Regular/distant): Regular

Language of teaching: English

Eligibility for admission: Bachelor’s Degree in Biosciences (Botany, Zoology, Veterinary Science, Forestry, Agriculture, Biotechnology, MBBS, Poultry Production and Business Management etc.)

Mode of selection and admission: As per KVASU Guidelines

Seat reservations: As per KVASU Guidelines

Syllabus (Provide as a separate document)/ Link to Syllabus in case of VCI & AICTE

Mode of evaluation: As per KVASU Guidelines

Attendance requirement: As per KVASU Guidelines

• Fee structure (semester wise) on as on 21.10.2020 (Date)

Syllabus of Master of Science (Wildlife Studies)

Major Courses (30 Credits)

1. Comparative Anatomy of Wild Animals 1+1=2

Theory
Gross, microscopic and clinical anatomy of common wild animals, imaging techniques as tools to study anatomy

Practicals
Dissection/ demonstration of bones, joints, muscles, viscera, heart and blood vessels, brain, spinal cord and nerves, sense organs and endocrine organs of common wild animals, Histological studies on the organ systems of type species, Radiographic and ultrasonographic study of animal anatomy

2. Wild Animal Biochemistry, Physiology and Molecular Cell Biology Techniques 1+1=2

Theory
Chemistry of the animal cell, applications of biochemistry of biomolecules, enzymes, metabolism, biochemical basis of disease in animals, reproductive biochemistry, physiology of digestion, cardiovascular physiology, renal physiology, haematology, reproductive physiology, neuromuscular physiology, neuro-endocrinology, physiology of behaviour and stress

Practicals
Advanced techniques in biochemistry, physiological experimentation and molecular cell biology techniques

3. Wildlife Taxonomy and Phylogenetics 1+0=1

Theory
Fundamentals of wildlife taxonomy, latest developments in the nomenclature of animals, application of phylogenetics in wildlife

4. Evolutionary Biology 1+0=1

Theory
History of evolutionary ideas; natural selection; units of selection; adaptation; speciation; population genetics; drift and the neutral theory; sexual selection and the evolution of sex; molecular phylogenetics, molecular evolution, estimating nucleotide substitutions, homologous sequences, gene trees vs. species trees, Darwinian selection at the molecular level, gene families

5. Molecular Genetics Methods in Wildlife Studies 1+1=2

Theory
Genesis and importance of molecular techniques in wildlife studies, genome organization – physical and genetic map, current status of genome maps of wildlife, molecular markers and their application - RLFP, RADP, microsatellite and minisatellite markers, PCR based markers, SNP marker, DNA fingerprinting, Gene mapping methodologies and strategies, DNA sequencing, genome sequencing, PCR – its types and application, Transgenesis and methods of gene transfer, Statistical techniques for analyzing molecular genetic data, Quantitative trait loci mapping and its application in animal breeding, marker assisted selection

Practicals
Extraction and purification of genomic DNA, gel electrophoresis, restriction enzyme digestion of DNA and analysis, PCR amplification of specific DNA sequences, Analysis of genomic DNA by different markers

6. Wildlife Ecology 1+0=1

Theory
Ecology and its importance in wildlife management, classification, biological and ecological basis for the management of wildlife, man-forest-wildlife relationship, ecology of protected wildlife areas and human inhabited wildlife rich areas, status of forests in India and the international scenario, conservation biology

7. Management of Free Ranging and Captive Wildlife 2+1=3

Theory
Captive and free ranging animals – principles and concepts, definition and concept of wildlife in India, distribution of wildlife in India, classification of land used for protecting wildlife, principles and systems of management of free ranging and captive wild animals, man-wildlife interactions, the value of wildlife conservation in human welfare, population estimation of free ranging wild life and its significance, methods of tracking of free ranging wildlife, control of wildlife populations in the wild and in captivity, rehabilitation of wild animals and associated problems, translocation of wildlife and associated disease risks, importance of management of wildlife in captivity, concepts in the housing of captive wild animals, environment enrichment, prevention of inbreeding among free ranging and captive wild animals, sustainable utilization of wildlife, national and international organizations associated with management of free ranging and captive wildlife

Practicals
Methods of population estimation of free ranging wildlife, identification and tracking of free ranging wildlife, study of different housing and management systems for captive wild life

8. Epidemiology and Wildlife Disease Ecology 1+0=1

Theory
Scope, concepts and application of the principles of epidemiology in the study of wildlife diseases, host-agent-environment factors in the causation of diseases and disease patterns, collection and processing of epidemiological data, experimental and observational epidemiological studies, national and international laws pertaining to the regulation of wildlife diseases, ecology of the major infectious diseases of wildlife

9. Wild Animal Nutrition 1+1=2

Theory
Food and feeding habits of free ranging and captive wild animals, nutritional requirement of various species of wild animals, ration formulation of captive animals, artificial feeding, feeding during emergencies, nutritional characteristics and adequacy of forage plants for wild animals, special diets used in captivity, hand-raising of orphan animals, nutritional deficiencies in free ranging and captive wild animals, clinical and geriatric nutrition of captive wild animals.

Practicals
Formulation and preparation of balanced diets for feeding healthy and diseased captive wild animals, feeding schedule and behavioral patterns among wild and zoo animals, artificial and emergency feeding including orphan rearing, preparation of mineral blocks

10. Wildlife Diseases 2+1=3

Theory
Concept of health and disease in wild animals, signs of diseases in free ranging and captive wild animals, common diseases of wild animals with special reference to NBR (bacterial, viral, parasitic, and other diseases), emerging infectious diseases, prevention and control of diseases in wild life, care and management of sick and convalescent wild animals

Practicals
Field and laboratory diagnostic techniques for the bacterial, viral, parasitic and other diseases

11. Wild Animal Reproduction and Captive Breeding Techniques 1+0=1

Theory
Reproductive biology of common species of wild animals of the NBR region, breeding techniques used in captive animal breeding, birth control methods in wild animals

12. Restraint of Wild Animals and Management of Wildlife Emergencies 2+1=3

Theory
Physiological changes associated with physical and chemical restraint of wild animals, risks and complications associated with the physical and chemical restraint of wild animals and their prevention, guidelines for planning for physical and chemical restraint of free ranging and captive wild animals, equipments and methods used for the physical restraint of various species of wild animals and birds, designing of cages for restraint and transport of wild animals, laws pertaining to the use of drugs in wildlife, protocols for handling and first aid of injured, sick and orphaned wild animals, decision making in wildlife emergencies

Practicals
Practical exposure to physical methods and equipment used in the restraint of free ranging and captive wild animals, first aid for injured or orphaned wild animals

13. Wild Animal Behaviour, Stress and its Management 2+1=3

Theory
Advanced concepts in animal behaviour, classification of behaviour types, the role of territory in determining wildlife behaviour, understanding wild animal behaviour with respect to strategies for survival, Stress and methods to alleviate it in free ranging and captive wild animals, prey-predator relationship, man-wildlife interactions, wild animal behaviour modification, application of principles of wild animal behaviour for control of unwanted man-wildlife interactions

Practicals
Video learning of Wild animal Behaviour, case studies of management of wild animal stress

14. Wildlife Forensics and Meat Species Identification 2+1=3

Theory
Introduction to Wildlife Forensics, Identification and examination of physical evidence and poaching, Signs of common wild life diseases of bacterial, viral, parasitic, toxic, nutritional, metabolic, immune mediated and miscellaneous causes, principles of clinical pathology techniques, methods of collection, preservation and submission of clinical and autopsy samples, preservation and despatch of carcasses for autopsy, meat-structure, meat authentication, need for meat authentication, conventional methods for species identification (physical, anatomical, histological and chemical), protein based (electrophoretic- SDS-PAGE, Iso-electric focusing, Capillary electrophoresis etc.), immunological (AGID, ELISA etc.), DNA- based methods (hybridization, RFLP, AFLP etc.)

Practicals
Techniques in wild life clinical pathology, techniques in preservation and despatch of morbid specimens in vetero-legal cases, advanced techniques in meat species identification - physical methods of identification, anatomical differences, chemical methods, immunological method – AGID, ELISA, molecular methods

15. Zoonotic Diseases with Special Reference to Wildlife 1+1=2

Theory
Concept and definition of zoonoses, classification of zoonoses, types, impact, factors for spread, and control of zoonoses, role of reservoir wild animal hosts for spread of zoonosis, ecological aspects of zoonoses, history, etiology, epidemiology, symptomatology, diagnosis, prevention and control of important zoonoses of wild life and public health significance.

Practicals
Isolation, identification and diagnosis of important zoonotic agents- culture, serological test, molecular or any other tests.

Minor Courses (6 Credits)

1. Biodiversity with Special Reference to the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) 1+1=2

Theory
Biodiversity and its value in wildlife conservation, the importance of biodiversity in human survival, identification of wild flora and fauna with special reference to the NBR, relationship of wild flora and fauna, biodiversity and wildlife health

Practicals
Laboratory and field level identification of flora and fauna of the NBR, field study of biodiversity of the NBR

2. Biostatistics 2+1=3

Theory
Compilation, classification, tabulation and diagrammatic representation of data; measures of central tendency; correlation and regression involving two variables; concept of random sampling; tests of significance; testing of hypothesis; statistical tests of two kinds of error; chi-square test; principles of sampling; sampling and sampling errors; analysis of variance; transformation to stabilize variance; principles of experimental design; randomized block design; latin square design; factorial experiments; missing plot techniques etc.

Practicals
Workout of concepts in biostatistics in practical situations

3. Climatology and Climate Change 1+0=1

Theory
Definitions, classification of climatic regions, wild animal adaptation to climatic variation, influence of climate on wild animal behaviour and reproduction, climate change and factors influencing climate change, effect of climate change on wildlife, principles and method in the prediction of climate change, need for assisted colonization

Supporting Courses (3 Credits)

1. Computer Application, Documentation Techniques and Monitoring Methods in Wildlife Management 1+1=2

Theory
Introduction to the use of computers in wildlife management; electronic data processing; operating systems; common software available; internet applications for wildlife study and management, database and bioinformatics, photography techniques as a tools for documentation and management of wildlife, advanced wild animal monitoring methods

Practicals
Practical use of computer and different softwares available for application in wildlife studies/management, wildlife photography, wild animal monitoring techniques

2. Forest and Wildlife Laws 1+0=1

Theory
Familiarization of all latest national and international forest and wildlife laws, all related laws, wildlife welfare and ethics

3. Physical Education (Physical Training, Horse Riding, Sports etc.) 0 credits

Physical training, horse riding, sports etc.

Others (21 Credits)

1. Credit Seminar 1+0=1
A relevant topic pertaining to the wildlife management in India

2. Field Training 0+10=10

3. Dissertation 0+10=10
A field level problem-oriented research project in consultation with the guide and the findings published as a dissertation at the end of the fourth semester