26 students of Semester VI specializing in Zoology returned after 13 days of touring, in various parts of the state of Odisha. The group was accompanied by 3 faculty members of the Dept. of Zoology viz., Dr Subhadra Devi Gadi, Dr Manoj R. Borkar, and Dr Sr. Maria Lizanne AC.
Emphasis was placed on giving the young Zoology aspirants a feel of the academic and research institutes of national repute in Odisha, besides visiting a number of archaeological sites and heritage monuments of historical importance during the tour.
The group visited the famed Nandankanan Zoological gardens and Sanctuary, and spent time studying the Captive Management and Zoo Enclosure Enrichment for a variety of species. The only ‘Pangolin Breeding Centre’ in the world here was the highlight of this visit. The Zoo is also famous for White Tigers, besides several reptilian and avian species. Visit to the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) gave the group a good understanding of various aspects of Fresh water Aquaculture including Ornamental Fish Breeding, Aquarium Fish Keeping, Fish Nutrition and Physiology. Farmers Training and outreach programs were explained to the group. On the way back from Shanti Stupa on the Dhaulagiri hill top, the group halted at Jaugada to appreciate Emperor Ashoka’s Rock Edict Inscriptions in Brahmi script of Magadhi Prakrita language at Jaugada, forbidding killing of animals. This is undoubtedly the genesis of the concept of Wildlife Sanctuary.
Another prestigious research institute that the group visited was Institute of Life Sciences where several laboratories were visited to understand frontline areas of research in Life Sciences such as Genomics, Cancer Biology, Embryology, and Vector borne diseases. Placement opportunities for Zoology graduates were discussed.
In the second lap of the study tour, the group visited the globally recognised brackish water wetland and India’s first Ramsar site, namely Chilika Lake, famous for migratory birds and the Irrawaddy Dolphins. Boat ride on the lake gave the group close sightings of the Irrawaddy Dolphins, besides various species of resident and migratory waterfowl at the Nalbana bird sanctuary. The group then shifted to the temple town of Puri, where some visited the Lord Jagannath Temple, an important icon of Hindu faith and a monument listed by the Arcaheological Survey of India. The next destination was the World Heritage UNESCO Monument , the Sun Temple of Konark. The Sun Temple was a delight for its architecture and sculpture, and the group spent time closely admiring the historical relic. On the way, the group took a brief halt at Balukhand-Konark Turtle sanctuary to study the nesting ecology of the Olive Ridley Turtles. The next day the group visited the Odisha State Maritime Museum at Cuttack and went around the exhibit galleries, aquarium and a 4D Theatre. Also, the group paid a visit to the Janakinath Bhavan in Cuttack Bazar, the birth place of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose of the Azad Hind Sena. On the way the Khandgiri and Udaygiri caves were visited on the occasion of World Heritage Week. On the penultimate day the students and faculty visited the Biju Patnaik Energy Park in Bhubaneshwar and got acquainted with various nonconventional energy options modeled here. On the last day Utkal University was visited for interaction with the PG Department of Zoology, where the faculty addressed the visiting group and explained the ongoing research activity. Also, two other departments were visited in the Utkal university campus namely, Departments of Biotechnology and Anthropology. The Anthropology museum had a very rich and interesting collection of artifacts on display throwing light on tribal culture of Odisha. The group having successfully completed a study tour of 13 days , reached Goa on 28th November, 2018.
At the ICAR CIFA with Dr Kedarnath Mohanta Scientist (Fish Nutrition). Photo-credits: Manoj Borkar
At the ICAR-CIFA Aquarium
At the Shanti Stupa Pagoda in Dhauli Giri on the banks of river Daya.
Emperor Ashoka’s Rock Edict Inscriptions in Brahmi script of Magadhi Prakrita language at Jaugada, forbidding killing of animals. Genesis of Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo-credits: Manoj Borkar
At the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneshwar, a state of the art Research Institute. Photo-credits: Manoj Borkar
At the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneshwar, a state of the art Research Institute. Photo-credits: Manoj Borkar
The iconic ‘Konark Wheel’ on the Sun Temple at Konark, Puri. photo-credits: Manoj Borkar
At the Odisha State Maritime Museum in Cuttack, Odisha