No increase in biologists employed in state depts for 2 decades

“It is a fact that the government is not directly employing those who pursue wildlife science. The Forest Department absorbs wildlife graduates as field biologists on a contract basis,” said J Ebanasar, professor and head, department of wildlife biology, Ooty Government Arts College. “Most UG and PG students are bright and get employed by premier wildlife institutes, but job opportunities in the government is remote. If there are full-time employments, more accountability and research can be taken up, the wildlife professor opined. At present only passionate students take up wildlife studies as there is no promising career in government sectors,” Ebanasar added.

“Vandalur zoo is one of Asia’s largest zoo but the staff strength hasn’t gone up since 2000,” conservation scientist A Kumaraguru, who is also a member of National Tiger Conservation Authority, said. Tamil Nadu already faces a shortage of marine biologists, field biologist, herpetologist, ornithologist and taxonomists and this will worsen. Job opportunities are not encouraging for life science graduates, Kumaraguru added. When contacted, a senior official said during the formation of Vandalur zoo in 1985, five posts for biologists were created, but since then there hasn’t been any change. These are policy decisions to be taken by the Finance Department, said the official.