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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively. Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively. On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs. In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc. During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.

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20192
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Subject: Wildlife Management × Author: KAU × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2019 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Utilisation of the waterholes by wild animals in Wayanad wildlife sanctuary
    (Department of Wildlife Sciences, College of Forestry, Vellanikara, 2019) Sachinkrishna, M V; KAU; Nameer, P O
    Utilisation of natural and artificial waterholes in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) was analysed in this research work. Vayals are the natural swampy areas while the waterholes are the artificial ponds made by the forest department. The study was done with two objectives such as mapping ofthe vayals and the artificial waterholes in the WWS and the usage of these structures by wild animals. We used GIS tools for mapping ofthe vayals as well as artificial waterholes in WWS. The animal visitation was studied using the camera traps installed in the selected vayals and artificial waterholes across the four ranges of WWS from September 2018 to May 2019. The observations were made in dry season and wet season. The geo-coordinated maps of 171 vayals and 168 artificial waterholes in Wayanad WWS were prepared. It is interesting to note that most of the artificial waterholes were made within the vayals. A total of 21 species of wild animals were found to be using the water sources in WWS. The animal visits to vayals/natural waterholes were greater than that of the artificial waterholes. However, the animal activity in these water sources in the dry season was greater than that of wet season. The herbivores preferred vayals more than waterholes, but the frequency of visit of other animals such as carnivores, primates, etc. were found to be more in waterholes. The most abundant animal in Wayanad wildlife Sanctuary was Spotted Deer and its frequency of visit was higher in vayals than artificial waterholes. The frequency of animal visit at waterholes made inside the vayal is found to be higher than that of waterholes dug outside the vayal. The temporal activity pattern of water source usage was also studied. Most ofthe vayals and waterholes were used mainly during morning and evening hours. The direct usage of artificial waterholes for drinking water was rarely observed. Most of the visits made by herbivores to the waterholes were for grazing around the waterbody. The randomness of usage of water sources were also studied using Run test. Asian Elephant, Barking Deer,Gaur, and Wild Boar show a non-random usage of natural waterholes in the wet season. In artificial waterholes, elephant shows a non-random usage in wet season and the Spotted Deer and Sambar Deer shows non-random usage in dry season. The design of waterhole is also found to be affecting the animal activity. The side walls of many waterholes were made steep in such a way that it cannot be accessible by small animals like Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, etc. The quality of water is another factor that influences the usage. Many waterholes were not capable of holding water in the extreme dry months. The vayals kept moist throughout the year and supported the animals with good fodder in the lean periods. Constructing waterholes inside the vayals causes degradation of the swampy habitat and lead to drying up of vayals. It also affects the hydrology of that landscape. So,the present study highlights the importance of vayals and its management in protecting that habitat. The construction of artificial waterholes should be done with proper scientific studies.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparison of feeding Ecology of two endemic species of langurs, Himalayan Grey Langur (Semnopithecus ajax) and Tufted Grey Langur(Semnopithecus priam)
    (Department of Wildlife Sciences, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara,Thrissur, 2019) Aakib Hussain Paul; KAU; Nameer, P O
    A field study was conducted to study the feeding ecology of two endemic species of the langurs viz., the Himalayan grey langur (Semnopithecus ajax) and Tufted grey langur (Semnopithecus priam). The study was conducted from August 2018 to April 2019 in Dachigam National Park, Srinagar and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala. The Himalayan grey langur showed typical preference towards a particular feeding item during different seasons. Although the Himalayan grey langur is folivorous yet consumes a variety of food items such as fruits, roots, flowers, buds, bark and twigs. The Himalayan grey langur spent a considerable amount of time in searching and feeding of insects to maintain the ionic balance. The overall maximum feeding was reported in case of Rosa webbiana (9.54 %), followed by Populas deltiodes (8.11 %), Salix alba (7.63 %), Hedera nepalensis (7.63 %) and Aseculas indica (6.9 %). Rosaceae family was most preferred followed by Salicaceae. The most preferred food item was leaves (27.18 %) followed by fruits (22.75 %) and seeds (10.49 %). Average height of feeding was reported to be 5.68 m, which was maximum, in case of Aseculas indica and Pinus wallichiana (11 m), followed by Ulmus villosa (9.8 m) and Ulmus wallichiana (9.7 m). The Tufted grey langur was reported to be feeding on 12 tree species belonging to seven different families. The maximum duration of feeding in case of Anogeissus latifolia and Samanea saman (18.87 %) followed Dalbergia lanceolaria and Gmelia tillifolia (9.43 %), Terminalia bellarica (7.55 %). The Tufted grey langur diet mainly comprised of leaves, twigs and fruits. The leaves comprised of 60.38 %, twigs 20.75 % and fruits 18.87 %. The average height of feeding was 8.8 m, which was maximum in case of Hydnocarpus pentandra (12 m) followed by T. bellarica (10.5 m). The Himalayan grey langur spent maximum time in feeding followed by resting and grooming. The Himalayan grey langur spent 41 % of the time budget activity on feeding, followed by moving (21 %), resting (16%) and grooming (15%). Vegetation studies using quadrant survey showed a total of 26 species belonging to 16 different families. The species such as P. wallichiana, P. jacquemontiana, Q. robur and M. alba as dominant. The IVI was computed to show quantitative relationship among vegetation and highlight the importance of trees. The IVI values show that most important family of trees is Panacea, Hamamelidaceae, Ulmeace, Fagaceae, Cannabeacae and Rosaceae. Although major population areas of S. ajax and S. priam are protected areas yet special efforts are required for conservation of these valuable species which have been categorized as ‘Endangered’ and Near threatened’ by IUCN.