It's a wild wild world!

A career in wildlife and forestry is more than an exciting nature hike! Ecological crises and imbalances have spurred an intensified global race to save the planet from further damage, highlighting the pivotal role of specialists in the field.

NATURAL resources are nature's most precious gifts to mankind. They are home to the most amazing herbs, medicinal compounds, dyes, cosmetics and natural fabrics. Unfortunately, the quest for industrial development, and commercialisation involving an alarming rate of depletion of natural reserves, risking existent forest covers. Ecological crises like global warming, the ozone layer, the gradual extinction of the beautiful fauna and flora, rabid commercial logging of woods for timber and unchecked poaching, have given crusading environmentalist activist groups and naturalists a further boost to intensify their efforts to preserve the environment and wild life.

Little fancied till recently, wild life and forestry makes for an interesting career option. The work profile of specialists in forestry and wild life is relative to their specialisation.

The specialists Foresters

An entry-level post as a forester involves a great deal of fieldwork. The forester is responsible for the maintenance of the forest, for grading and measuring trees, conducting land surveys, checking for insect outbreaks, evaluating water quality, checking for and fighting wild fires, taking up afforestation, etc. With experience, foresters can graduate to managing public relations, preparing reports and managing budgets.

Dendrologists

Dendrologists specialise in the scientific study of trees and woody plants. Their work involves research on the history, life span, measuring, grading, classifying the variety of trees, and studying ways and means of tree improvement through afforestation etc.

Ethologists

Ethology is the scientific study of animal behaviour in its natural environment. An ethologist studies and analyses the evolution, behaviour, biological functions etc of an organism in its natural environment. This requires the ethologist to understand the environs of the organism as well to accomplish a thorough study, a la Jane Goodall!

Forest range officers

Entry to this post is through the UPSC examination. The forest ranger takes care of public forests, sanctuaries, botanical gardens, etc. They have conservators, loggers, and other junior personnel working with them.

Zoo curators

They are responsible for animal welfare in the zoos and also undertake conservation programmes. Their duties involve supervision of maintenance and repair works, cleaning of animal enclosures, health and well being of animals, and planning exhibits. They also review reports made by zookeepers, calculate the budgetary requirements for the zoo and encourage research activity.

Other specialisations

Further more, for one interested in a harmonious blend of science and wild life and forestry, there are other specialisations like animal cytology, genetics, nutrition, and physiology, and veterinary science.

The making of a specialist

A wild life enthusiast aspiring for a career in forestry and wild life would have to possess considerable physical stamina, endurance, and a keen interest in nature conservation and animal protection.

The aspirant must also possess an analytical bent of mind, a hardy disposition for facing in unpredictable conditions of work, physical strain and readiness to deal with poachers, illegal trespassers and gamers, a crusading spirit and excellent skills of observation.

Entry into the field

Nature and wildlife enthusiasts with physics, chemistry and biology at the intermediate level can specialise in the subject at the graduate, postgraduate and doctoral level.

The North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong and the Kumaon University, Nainital offer a master's programme in forestry. Other related specialisations involve a postgraduate programme in wood science and technology available at the Forest Research Institute. The Aligarh Muslim University, Saurashtra University and the Wildlife Institute of India offer a specialisation in wildlife science. The Indian Institute of Forest Management at Bhopal offers a study programme in forestry management.

Career prospects: The Indian Forest Service

Entry into the Central government is through the Indian Forest Service (IFS) examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. Applicants with a graduate degree in animal husbandry and veterinary science, botany, chemistry, geology, mathematics, physics, statistics, zoology, agriculture, forestry or engineering, and between 21 years and 30 years of age are eligible to apply.

Initial training is at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy, after which the selected candidates are trained at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy at Dehra Dun. They are then posted as the assistant conservator, district conservator, conservator, chief conservator, principal conservator, and the inspector general of forests. The senior most post is that of the Environment Secretary in the Union Government.

Voluntary organisations

Green watchers, Wildlife Trust of India, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Environment Awareness Society, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) etc are some of the national and international voluntary organisations that actively work towards the preservation and conservation of wildlife and forests.

Research

Academically inclined aspirants interested in research in forestry can work with the Indian Council of Forestry research and Education (ICFRE) and the various research institutes affiliated to it. The Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun; Institute of Social Forestry and Eco- rehabilitation, Allahabad; Institute of Forestry Research and Human Resources Development, Chindwara are some of the institutes working under the aegis of ICFRE.

Similarly, wildlife research enthusiasts can work with the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun and the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore.If a deep and undying love for all things good and natural, passionate belief in the protection of the depleting wild life, and a life amidst nature is your Eldorado, then a profession in the rough country is what you are looking for!

SAMYUKTA KODA

samyukta.hyd@careercommunity.co.in