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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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Subject: Wildlife Management × End date: 2018 × Start date: 2018 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Status and habitat preferences of White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis ) population of Wayand wildlife sanctuary, Kerala
    (Department of Wildlife Sciences, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2018) Vishnu, M; KAU; Nameer, P O
    The research work entitled "Status and habitat preferences of White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) population of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala" was studied during August 2017 to April 2018. It was carried out in four study locations viz., Kurichiat, Muthanga, Sulthan Bathery and Tholpetty. The main objective of the study was to find out the status, nesting characteristics, feeding observations and interview of various stakeholders. Three species of vultures included in the family Accipitridae were reported from the current study in Wayanad WLS viz., Gyps bengalens is, Gyps indicus, and Sarcogyps calvus. Total of 4 active nesting trees were identified from two different colonies this year. All the 4 nest were present in Haldina cardifolia. Out of the 4 nests, 3 nests belongs to Gyps bengalensis located in Kazukankolli and 1 nest belongs to Sarcogyps calvus which was the 1st report of nesting of this species in the sanctuary located in Karamukku, Kurichiyad. Apart from this, 9 nests of the previous years on 6 different tree species were also studied. Other nesting tree species were Terminalia elliptica, Lagerstroemea microcarpa, Dalbergia latifolia, Stereospermum chelenoides and Tectona grandis. Thirty species of trees were identified belonging to 17 different families from the 44 circular plots surveyed in the nesting colony of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. Most of the nesting are having height between 25 m - 35 m and girth more than 300 em. Mostly height of the nests are in between 23 m - 26 m of the nesting trees. IVI of the nesting trees are comparatively higher than the other tree species got from the plots. The vegetation parameters that influence the nesting habitat of vultures are the girth of the tree, height of the tree and the tree species diversity in the area. The camera trapping has been found to be a useful technique for the population estimation of the vultures at the vulture restaurants in Wayanad. The camera trap success rate of vultures observed in Kakkappadam is 34.09%. The high success rate is because it is a dumping ground of carcass. Carcass monitored was of Elephant, Sambar Deer and Spotted deer. The most preferred feeding hours by the vultures were 7-8 hours and 12-13. hours.From the survey conducted among the veterinarians and the medical shops it was found that the harmful NSAID's such as Ketoprofen are being used to treat livestock, which could be a problem for the long-term conservation of the vultures. The use of the veterinary diclofenac was nil at Wayanad District. However, some of the medical practitioners were found using the human diclofenac for treating livestock.