MODULE 1 – WILDLIFE FORENSICS
From this module, students will able to acquaint themselves with wildlife forensic that is the scientific procedure to investigate the wildlife. Wildlife forensic has a huge scope and career, as many species are in danger. For preserving the wild flora and fauna, many institutes have been developed in which training of wildlife protection is given to the people. This module also covers the qualification of wildlife forensic experts, role of wildlife forensic scientists, and forensic significance of wildlife forensic.
MODULE 2 – BASIC CONCEPT OF ECOLOGY
This module focusses on the interaction among the organism and environment. Ecology consists the earth science, biology, and geography in which the energy flow, nutrient cycling, species diversity, population dynamics, ecological succession, and soil are covered. This module also includes the ecological survey (the identification of habits or species that exist in the area at the time of survey).
MODULE 3 – INTRODUCTION TO WILDLIFE CRIME
This module includes wildlife crime (crime against flora and fauna) and their causes. In wildlife crime, the animals are the victims as illegal trade of animals, traditional medicine, and keeping wildlife as pets. This module also defines how the wild animals become the cause of an incident like deer and road traffic accidents, scavenging, infection hazards, carnivore- livestock conflicts, etc.
MODULE 4 – TYPES OF WILDLIFE CRIME
Through this module, students get to know about the type of crime against wildlife. The wildlife crimes are done in different ways like hunting, poaching, international wildlife crime (smuggling), and domestic wildlife crime. The wildlife crime is done for the demand of elephant ivory, rhino horn, tiger products, etc. This module also covers the Invasive Non-Native Species and their prevention, eradication, and an Invasive Species Strategy.
MODULE 5 – CAPTURE AND HANDLING OF WILD ANIMALS
This module includes the method and techniques for capturing the animals. Sometimes the drug immobilization is done for handling the animals that include Pistol, Rifle, Jab stick, Blowpipe, Crossbow, and Dart design. These drug immobilization has some responses, side effects, drug action, dosages, safety measures, and complications. This module also covers the transportation of animal, Individual’s Identification- Behavioral Idiosyncrasies, Passive Marking Collars, Branding, Rings, etc. and Dynamic Marking- Beta Light and Radio-Tracking-Harnesses.
MODULE 6 – SPECIMEN IDENTIFICATION AND PROVENANCE
This module defines the taxonomy of plants in which the plant morphology, vegetative and flower characteristics, wood anatomy, and traditional medicines are covered. This module also defines animal identification through morphology, museum services, Skeleton, Skull, Horns, Antlers, Tusks (Ivory) and Teeth, etc. and feather identification and bird eggs.
MODULE 7 – DNA TESTING AND WILDLIFE CRIME
The module DNA testing and wildlife crime include the collection, preservation of DNA evidence of wildlife through which we can know about the endangered species and save them by inserting their DNA into other species. The DNA is preserved for the analysis by different methods such as protein polymorphisms, DNA quantification, RFLP, PCR, SNP, and emerging techniques. These DNA data and human DNA data is secured in the database for further examination.
MODULE 8 – CITIES-CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES AND WILD FAUNA AND FLORA
Species of flora and fauna that are currently in danger to extinct are termed as Endangered Species by National and International Organizations. CITES is an organization that works for the endangered species. It manages all the details for endangered species. This module also covers the endangered species act of 1973.
MODULE 9 – MANAGEMENT OF WILDLIFE PROTECTED AREAS
Under this module, students will be introduced to management strategies for protected areas such as objectives and resource studies. Analysis of surrounding region, planning of boundaries, management zones, communications, staff, and visitor amenities will be introduced in this module. The concept of the management programme, establishing control habitat and wildlife management, tourism, finance, wildlife in managed forests, and exploited forests. Indian, American, and South East Asian case histories will introduced and addressed to the potential management inputs and exploration needs to permit such inputs.
MODULE 10 – WILDLIFE ECOTOURISM
It will emphasize on objectives, planning, and economics tourism. Ecotourism, protected areas in India, development of interpretative facilities, visitor characteristics, expectations and motivations, sustainability in wildlife tourism, planning ecotourism in protected areas, harvesting by management or hunting licenses, will be introduced in this module. Case studies of Periyar Tiger Reserve, Keoladeo National Park, Kanha National Park, and Jim Corbet National Park and Sunderbans Tiger Reserve. Limitations and problems of ecotourism, ecotourism as a way for sustainable management of natural resources, local livelihoods, and ecotourism like nomadic grazing, agro will be explored in this course module.
MODULE 11 – LEGAL ASPECTS OF WILDLIFE FORENSIC
Through this module, students will be familiarized with comprehensive knowledge regarding the legal aspects of Wildlife Forensics, Legal consideration, Penalties and Sentencing, Policing Wildlife Crime, National Wildlife Crime Unit, Recording Crime Agency, National Crime Agency, Civil Enforcement, Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime, Writing Reports and Appearing in Courts, Conclusion, and Recommendations will be the part of this course module.
MODULE 12 – WILDLIFE FORENSICS, CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES, AND LAWS
The focus of this module will be on forest policy- foundation, need, and latitudes. National forest policies of 1894, 1952 and 1988 and salient structures forest law, Indian forest act 192, forest act 1980 and rules 2003, environmental - Protection Act 1986, Indian biological diversity act 2002, Pollution policy in practice, environmental quality standards, environmental guidelines, regulations and rules and manifold case studies relating to acts above specified with the initial idea of IPC, CrPC. It provides an overview of the major international agreements such as UNFCCC, CBD, CITES, ITTA, Kyoto Protocol TRIPS, and other. Preservation laws, national wildlife conservation policy, Wildlife Act-1972, conservation movement in India, socio-economic, political realities, and different phases of the conservation.
