Welcome to A.V.C COLLEGE (Autonomous), Mayiladuthurai, India

The department was offering Zoology at the Pre university class and ancillary level from 1958 to 1966. Madras University granted affiliation to this college to start B.Sc., Zoology major in the academic year 1966-67. In 1980-81 the department had the privilege of starting the unique M.Sc., Wildlife Biology course in India and thereafter it was recognized as a Research Department with the starting of Part-time and Full-time M.Phil., Courses in Zoology and Wildlife Biology in the year 1982. Part-time and Full-time Ph.D., programmes were launched in 1983. Presently the department is full-fledged with UG, PG and Research courses like M.Phil., Ph.D., both part-time and Full time. Besides, in the evening college M.Sc., Zoology was started during the academic year 1994 -95. Besides that, during 2003-04 B.Sc., Biotechnology & M.Sc., Bio-Informatics were started in the evening College as a part of our Zoology department.

Faculty Details

Department Vision: Excellence, Ever Excellence.

Department Mision : Working Together with Dedication and Sincerity to acheive Greater Academic heights to bring fame and name to the institution and to the individual.

Department Facilities

   a. Museum

    We have about 1500 specimens (formalin preserved and stuffed) in our museum. A new museum block was built at a cost of Rs.3.5 lakhs and it was opened recently. The University Grants Commission gave financial assistance to the tune of 1.20 Lakhs while the remaining amount was borne by the management. There is a separate preparation room in the museum. The Department of Culture, Union Government provided financial assistance of Rs.1,00,000 for the improvement of the Museum.

  b. Equipments

    The department is in receipt of funds from the University Grants Commission and Management, for the purchase of important equipments necessary for carrying out research in Zoology and Wildlife Biology. Some of the important Equipments of the Department are ;

                Photomicrographic Equipment, Kjeldhal Digestion and Distillation unit, Soxhlet extraction Apparatus, Electrophoresis unit, Flame Photometer, Autoclave, CCD Camera with 27" Colour Monitor, High Speed Centrifuge, Yoco Horizontal Laminor Flow bench, Digital Lux Meter, Meteorological Apparatus, Elico water quality analyzer, Medical Surgical Slide Viewers, Magnetic Stirrer and Portable Global Positioning System(GPS).

STUDENTS' WELFARE

   a. Remedial Classes
    The Department has well equipped class rooms and laboratory. Remedial classes have been conducted for failed candidates for appearing in the supplementary examinations then and there. We have conducted remedial classes for UG students (Major and allied) during December 1998 - 2000 and October 2001, and distributed the reading material prepared by the staff of the Department to the students.

   b. Counseling

    PG students and Research scholars were given training to appear for SLET and UGC lecturership examinations by Dr. L.S. Renganathan, HOD of Zoology, Annamalai University, Chidambaram under TARGET competitive examination program.

   c. Wildlife Science Forum

    The P.G. students of Wildlife Biology started the Wildlife Science Forum in order to have a Forum on which they can discuss the current issues in Wildlife Conservation and update their knowledge in Wildlife Biology. They have organized group discussion in various wildlife topics after the regular class hours. Besides they arranged invited lectures from other faculties on interdisciplinary subjects.

   d. Field Training

    Wildlife Biology students were given field training for animal/bird census, vegetation analysis and different aspects of wildlife management in different parts of the Forests.

Elephant census conducted in Dharmapuri Reserve forest during May 1997.
Field training in Kerala Forest Research Institute during August 1998.
All India Wildlife Census program at Srivilliputhur, during February 1998.
Bird census at Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary, during March 1998.
Animal census Program at Pointcalimere Sanctuary during 1999.
Bird census Program at Pointcalimere Sanctuary during 2001.
Elephant census conducted by the forest department at Mudumalai 18-22 Dec, 2000.
Wild life census at Indira Gandhi wildlife sanctuary during 2001.
Field trip to Mundanthiurai Tiger reserve Oct, 2001.
Field training at Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur and snake park during Oct.
Waterbird census at Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary during January 2002.

   e. Innovative Curriculum

    UG Level : Public Health & Hygiene and Economic Zoology Elective Papers.
    PG Level : Medical Zoology and Aquaculture Practice Papers.
ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT

   a. Research activities

    The Department has well equipped class rooms and laboratory facility to undertake Research Programs Till date, 30 candidates have been awarded Ph.D. degree and 15 Ph.D., Scholars are actively engaged in their research program.

Ph.D. Awardees

S.No.

Name of the Scholar

Guide

Year

1. N. Sivaganesan Dr.M.C.S 1992

2. K. Thiyagesan Dr.M.C.S 1992

3. Justus Joshua Dr.M.C.S 1993

4. Devi Swetharanyam Dr.K.M 1994

5. Joshep A.Jerald Dr.M.C.S 1995

6. R.Santhanakrishan Dr.R.K.S 1996

7. S.Asokan Dr.R.K.S 1996

8. M.Sabesan Dr.R.K.S 1997

9. P.Neelanarayanan Dr.R.K.S 1997

10. G.Ramaswamy Dr.R.K.S 1997

11. J.Alphonse Jayabalan Dr.K.M 1998

12. R.Chandra Bai Dr.K.M 1998

13. S.Rameshkumar Dr.M.C.S 1998

14. V.Kalaiarasan Dr.R.K.S 1998

15. N.Baskaran Dr.R.K.S 1999

16. R.Nagarajan Dr.R.N 2000

17. A.Manimozhi Dr.R.K.S 2000

18. K.Saravanan Dr.R.K.S 2002

19. C.Subramanian Dr.M.C.S 2003

20. M.Varadharajan Dr.K.T 2003

21. V.Dhivakaran Dr.K.T 2004

22. J.Pandian Dr.S.A 2004

23. S.R.Vasuki Dr.K.M 2004

24. G.Jonas Gunasekaran Dr.S.A 2004

25. A.S.Paul Ravindran Dr.S.A 2004

26. S.Thiyagarajan Dr.K.T 2004

27. G.Sridhar Dr.K.T 2004

28. C.Vedhanayaki Dr.K.M 2004

29. C.Subramanian Dr.K.T 2005

30. S.Muthukumar Dr.K.T 2005

Within a span of ten years 256 scholars have completed M.Phil., degree and currently 9 Scholars are doing M.Phil., program in Zoology and Wildlife Biology. Our faculty members are acting as Resource Person for YSSP since 1999 till date and they have completed many major and minor projects funded by International and National Bodies.

Completed Projects by the Faculty Members between 2000 to 2006

S.No.
Pricipal Investigator & Details of the Project

Funding Agency

1.
Dr. N.Sivaganesan
Field Training on the Management of elephant reserve for the Forest Staff of Tamilnadu.- 47870US$ - (2002 - 2003)
US Fish and Wildlife Service, USA

2.

Dr. N.Sivaganesan
Management Training Programme of Elephant Mahouts, Mudumalai Sanctuary.- Rs.14,500 - (2002)
Tamilnadu Forest Department.

3.

Dr. N.Sivaganesan
Management Training For the Conservaiton of Asian Elephants.- Rs.35,500 - (2002)
Tamilnadu Forest Department.

4.

Dr. N.Sivaganesan
Management of Elephant Reserves with Community Participation in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.- 44982US$ - (2001- 2002)
US Fish and Wildlife Service, USA

5.

Dr. G. Ramaswamy
Survey of Amphibian Diversity at the Indira Gandhi National Park- 1550US$ - (2002- 2003)
Conservation International and DAPTF - UK

6.
Dr. K. Thiyagesan
Survey of Freshwater Lakes- Rs.25,000 - (2001- 2002) United Nations Development Programme(UNDP)

7.
Dr. K. Thiyagesan
Impacts of Exotic Plant Fire on vegetation and selected mammal Communities in Mudumalai Sanctuary. - Rs.1,00,111 - (2000- 2001) Tamilnadu Forest Department.

8.
Dr. K. Thiyagesan
Impacts of Fire on the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. - Rs.30,000 - (2000- 2001) Tamilnadu Forest Department.

9.
Dr. K. Thiyagesan
Impacts of Exotic Plant Weeds on vegetation and selected mammal Communities in Mudumalai Sanctuary. - Rs.1,00,000 - (2000- 2001) Tamilnadu Forest Department.

10.
Dr. K. Thiyagesan
Impacts of Fire on the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. - Rs.30,000 - (2000- 2001) Tamilnadu Forest Department.

11.
Dr. K. Thiyagesan & Dr. R. Nagarajan
"Patterns of Diversity, abundance and habitat utilization in birds in the Pichavaram wetlands, Tamilnadu with special emphasis on migratory water birds"- Rs.1,00,000 - (2004- 2006) UGC (Minor Research Project)

12.

Dr. G. Ramaswamy
Studies on the effect of agricultural pesticides on amphibian fauna at Mannampandal- Rs.23,000 - (2002- 2004)
UGC (Minor Research Project)

13.

Dr. M.C. Sathyanarayana
Food and Fedding Ecology of Grey Jungle fowl at Theni Forest Division- Rs.2,66,000 - (2003- 2006)

UGC (Major Research Project)

   Ongoing Project

1.

Dr. S. Asokan
Ecology and Diversity of insectivorous birds in an agro-environment, Nagapattinam, Tamilnadu. - Rs.10,76,160 - (2003- 2007)
Ministry of Environment and Forest, New Delhi.

   b. Seminars/Workshops and Symposia conducted

    The Department has so far condicted 20 Seminars/workshops/symposia. For the past Five years(2000-2005) the following six Seminars/workshops/symposia were conducted.

S.No. Title of the Seminar/Workshop/Symposium Year

1. Workshop on "Wildlife Photography" - UGC Sponsored Feb - 2001

2. Workshop on "Animal use in practicals pros & cons - Autonomous Grant Sep - 2001

3. National Symposium on "Galliforms" - DST, BARD & Management Grant Feb - 2002

4. Workshop on "Recent Trends in Blue Revolution" - UGC Sponsored Feb - 2003

5. Workshop on "Biological Preservaiton Techniques" - UGC, TN Govt. Museum Sponsored Feb - 2004

6. National Seminar on "WildLife Conservation" - AVCC Management Grant Feb - 2005


   c. Awards / Recognition

Dr. K. Thiyagesan, joined as a Joint Director in the Department of Environment (Research and Training), Government of Tamilnadu, on 27th February 2002.
Dr. M.C. Sathiyanarayana has been awarded 'UGC Research Award'-1999-2002.
Dr. R. Nagarajan has been appointed as Honorary Research Fellow in Animal Behaviour from October 2000 in the School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
Dr. R. Nagarajan has been awarded Commonwealth Scholarship for the period between August 1996 and November 1999 (app. 35 lakhs) (1-2 scholarship for the whole of India in Environmental Science)
Dr. R. Nagarajan has been awarded Student Support by British Ecological Society (BES) during 1998 and 1999.
Dr. R. Nagarajan has been awarded Postgraduate Study Visit Fellowship by British Psychological Society (BPS) during 1998.
Dr. R. Nagarajan has been awarded Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) Travel Grant during 1999.
Dr. R. Nagarajan has been awarded National Environmental Research Council-NERC, UK Travel Bursary during 1997 and 1999.
Dr. R. Nagarajan has been awarded Mountbattern Educational Grant by Sir ErnestCassel Educational Trust, UK during 1999.
Dr. R. Nagarajan has been awarded The Leche Trust Grant by The Leche Trust, London during January 2000.
Dr. R. Nagarajan has been awarded The Student Award by the Wilson Society, USA during March 2000.
Dr. R. Nagarajan has been awarded Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) Conference Grant during 2001.
Dr. G. Ramaswamy has been Nominated to the Tamilnadu Bio-Diversity Conservation Programme Commitee 2003.

   d. Abroad Visits

Dr. K. Thiyagesan

Underwent a training programme on Wildlife Conservation and Management at the SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, WASINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., during 31.05.88.

Underwent a training on Zoo Animal Management at the Paignton Zoo, Paignton, Devon, U.K. from January to May, 1991.

Visited Thailand for attending International Bee Research Association (IBRA) conference during March, 2001.

Visited Switzerland to attend the “7^th International Conference on Cormorants at Villenueve, Switzerland from 23^rd to 26^th Nov.2005

Mr. M. Varadharajan

Chiangmai, Thailand. For presentation of research findings in International Conference on Tropical Bees: Management . 19-25 March, 2000.
University of Minnesota, USA. For a training on Honeybee Queen Rearing short Course. July, 2003.

Dr. M.C. Sathiyanarayana attended and presented a paper on 'Grey junglefowl habitat degradation at Meghamalai in the Western ghats, south India International Galliformes symposium from 24th to 27thSeptember 2000 World Pheasant Association and Pheasant Specialist Group Kathmandu, Nepal.
Dr. R. Nagarajan visited United Kingdom (England, Wales and Scotland), United States of America, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg for presenting papers. Details of the papers presented and published are given under relevant heads.

   e. Meritorius Alumni

          Many of our Faculty members are our Alumni and to give a few;

S.No.

Name

Present Position

1. Dr.V. Divahar Secretary, STET College for Women, Mannargudi.

2. Dr.G.Agoramoorthy Professor, San Yat Chen University, Taiwan.

3. Dr.S.Bhuphathy Scientist SACON, Coimbatore.

4. Dr.M.Sabesan Professor, Annamalai University.

5. Dr.V.Kalaiarasan Director, Snake Park, Chennai.

6. Dr.Ravichellam Scientist, UNDP, New Delhi.

7. Dr.K.Sankar Scientist WildLife Institute of India, Dehradun.

8. Dr.T.Balasubramanian Director,CAS in Marine Biology,Annamalai Univ.

9. Dr.Singaravelan PDF, Hebrow University, Israel.

10. Dr.Muralidharan Scientist SACON, Coimbatore.

11. Dr.Rathinasabapathy Scientist, V.O.C Zoological Park, Coimbatore.

12. Dr.K.Veeramani Scientist, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala.

13. Dr.A.Manimozhi Biologist, Arignar Anna Zoo, Chennai

14. Dr.S.Venkatraman Scientist, Zoological Survey of India.

15. Dr.C.Sivaperuman Expert Consultant, CPCSEA, MoEnv., Chennai.

16. Dr.P.Balasubramanian Scientist SACON, Coimbatore.

17. Dr.R.SandhanaKrishan Lecturer, Sri Narayanan College, Madurai.

18. Dr.P.Neelanarayanan Lecturer, N.M. College, Puthinampatti.

19. Dr.K.Arumugam Scientist, Indian Institute of Sci., Mudumalai.

20. Dr.R.Sathyakumar Scientist WildLife Institute of India, Dehradun.

Core Courses Details

A.V.C. COLLEGE (Autonomous), Mannampandal,
Mayiladuthurai - 609305, TamilNadu, India.