Veterinary Science and animal husbandry professionals have gained significance in the past few years. It is an emerging and comparatively newer field.
Image Source: accendopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/pet-veterinarian.jpg
A veterinarian’s primary responsibility is to look after the health and welfare of the animals by diagnosing, treating and curing the diverse types of diseases in birds and animals. Besides giving treatment, Vets perform surgery prevent spreading of diseases in animals by administering timely vaccination and medicines and give advice on care of pets and farm animals including wildlife conservation, poultry management and health.
Institutes Offering
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Several institutions and universities are offering various courses in veterinary sciences offering courses on wildlife health care and management. The Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly started diploma the first National Diploma course on wildlife Health Care and management in 1995. The Madras Veterinary College, Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Science University, Chennai was first to start M. VSc. degree in Wildlife Science in the country in the year 1994 followed b7y college of veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Viswa Vidylaya, Jabalpur (M.P.) in the year 2001. Now, JNKVV has taken imitative to start centre for Forensic and Wildlife Health Institute of Wildlife Science is coming up at Kodagu affiliated to Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar. This Institute is going to provide M. VSc. and Ph.D. degree in Wildlife Science.
Course Details
To be eligible for the Bachelor’s in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (B. VSc & AH) course, a candidate should have passed the class 12 examination with science subjects such as Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Admission to most veterinary courses is made on the basis of entrance examination conducted by the concerned universities. veterinary Council of India conducts and ‘All India Common Entrance Examination’ (AICEE) for admission to Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (BVSc &* AH) degree course. The duration of BVSc & Ah various from four and a half years to five years, including the period of internship. For admission to master degree program, and All India Entrance Examination is conducted by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Career Prospects
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Veterinarians can choose to work with the government animal husbandry departments, poultry farms, dairy farms, sheep and rabbit farms, piggery farms, race clubs, stud farms, private and government veterinary hospitals and clinics. Apart from this the government also employs veterinarians as public health professionals whose services are utilized in zoos, ‘national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Various zoological research institutes employ veterinarians to conduct research and development in various departments.
Wildlife professional can take up assignments either in outdoors, laboratories or offices depending on their subject of specialization and choice. Opportunities exist with various government and non-government organizations working for wildlife conservation. The opportunities often comes for engagement as Scientist/Scientific/Officer/Research Officer in government department, research Institutes viz.., Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, laboratory for conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONS), Zoological Survey of India, New Delhi, MoEF, New Delhi. Wildlife professionals can work in Central Government, as Curator in National Zoological Parks, Wildlife Biologist in National Zoological Parks, Assistant Professor/Lecturers in wildlife science/wildlife management in the central veterinary, agricultural fisheries sciences and traditional universities, Scientist/Scientific /Officer/Research Officer/Assistant Professor in the wild life research institute and Government Departments viz. Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Madhumlai, Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONS), Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Zoological Survey of India, New Delhi, MoEF, Salim Ali Centre of Ornithonology and Natural History (SACON), Zoologist in Zoological Survey of India, New Delhi and Natural History Museums, Researcher/Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)/ Senior Research Fellowship (SRF)/ Research Associate in time bound project at WII, LaCONS, IVRI, SACON and otehr colleges. Consultant in CPCSEA, MoEFF, Chennai,. Similar openings are also existing in State Government, Curator in zoos, Wildlife biologist in zoological parks / national parks / sanctuary / state forest department etc., Scientist/Research Officer in the wildlife protected areas.
Private Sector / NGOs / Societies
There are number of non-government organizations working in the field of wildlife rescue rehabilitations and conservation at national and international level. NGOs can apply for grant from the various funding agencies including Government. The fund is give for the specific purposes. Few NGO’s can offer opening as Scientist in Bombay Natural History Society: Project coordinator Program Officer. Wildlife Societies working for wildlife welfare and public awareness viz. wildlife trust of India: Wildlife SOS: Wildlife conservation fund; World wildlife fund; Society for prevention of cruelty to animals also offers good employment and remuneration. One can also start its own organizations and projects can work as an Consultant in wildlife health; Wild animal hospital; Diseases Diagnostic labs “Parasitological, Biochemistry. Microbiology, etc.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Opportunities in Research & Training
Independent and collaborative research projects related to wildlife health, as well as diagnostic pathology and microbiological and molecular biology support pursued by the researcher. Research schemes for extramural funding of projects funded to scientist working in wildlife health or to domestic animal or public health problems involving wildlife.
Opportunities in Aquatic & Marine Field
Commercial Fisheries employs fishery biologists for investigation in basic research in physiology, ecology, life history, and yields of commercially important stocks of marine fish, freshwater fish, mollusks, crustaceans, marine mammals and plants. Wildlife biologists are responsible for conservation, protection, and management of wild mammals, waterfowl, and upland game birds and game fish.
Self Employment
Several career options are open to graduates in veterinary science Dairy and poultry farms require the services of a veterinarian. The veterinarian can also set-up private proactive. The government also employs veterinarians as public health professionals whose services are employed in zoos, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. if interested, you can take up teaching as well. Postgraduates in the field of veterinary science can go in for research.
Eko Tracks
Eko Tracks offers a special interest course designed for students in veterinary science with wildlife veterinarians in the growing wildlife industry by participating in game capture operations, field and lab work of wild animals, breeding of rare species, wildlife rehabilitation, ecosystems and biodiversity, conservation.
Veterinary Epidemiologist
Applicants with the background in Veterinary Medicine with an understanding of zootoxic aspects from animals to humans, and establishing linkages between human and animal disease surveillance systems. Wildlife Veterinary Pathology Courses have opening for a veterinarian with wildlife disease and pathology interests to pursue a M.Sc or PhD degree. The successful applicant will be expected to participate in the wildlife diagnostic service and will be expected to undertake research related to wildlife diseases. The student will have ample opportunity to obtain anatomic pathology training in domestic animals and training to prepare for certifying examination.
Opportunities aboard
Many opportunities exist in the foreign countries for the deserving candidates. The jobs abroad specialists from India are finding jobs abroad as wildlife consultant for esteemed organizations. The most important of these being the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Wildlife Conservation Society, and peoples for Ethical Treatment of Animals etc. Many organizations are hiring Indian personal for working in countries like USA, South Africa, and many African counties. There are teaching opportunities in African counties. The African counties (eg. Ethiopia) regularly sends their representative to India and conduct interviews for teaching positions for their universities. Anyone who is writing to go abroad for higher studies like PhD and post doctorate fellowship can get attractive fellowship for this purpose.
The scientific management and conservation of wildlife is a joint effort Government, NGOs and mainly international organization are involved in conserving our wildlife. It can be archived furnishing concern to its all the aspects like biology, ecology, health, forensics and eco-husbandry facts of wildlife management. The wildlife veterinarian, biologist, ecologist, researches, activists and wildlife lover from the Indian and abroad should come foreword to accomplish this mission. Work of reputed wild life workers are also recognized by the World Veterinary Association on World Veterinary Day celebrated in the last week of April every year.
Remuneration
The remuneration of a veterinarian varies on the basis of his practice and the animals which are under his treatment. In government veterinary centers/ hospitals fresh graduates are appointed on lucrative salary.
By Dr. Arun S. Ninawe