Zoology

What is Zoology?

• Zoology is Biology’s most common branches which involve studying animals and their biological processes

• This encompasses areas that range from organism structure to subcellular unit of life. 

What Zoologists do?

• Many zoologists have an interest in the biology of particular species classes. 

• Some are researching how new species are created, and how their characteristics are transferred from generation to generation. Zoologists study animal interactions with each other and their surroundings, as well as the significance of animal behaviour.

What are the skills required to be a Zoologist?

• Communication skills

• Critical thinking

• Observation skills

• Interpersonal skills

• Emotional stability

• Keen interest in animals and their habitation

How is it different from Wildlife biology?

Zoology is the discipline covering animal research. This is about their actions, their structure, and their roles. Wildlife biology is the study of animals and their environments. Zoologists need a solid background in biology, chemistry, and math and Wildlife biologists need extensive ecological, botanical, and zoological information.

Where can one study zoology in India?

To follow this path, candidates should have passed Class XII with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and an aggregate of at least 50 per cent marks. Entrance exams to write for the admission are Christ university entrance test, AUCET, and other respective college entrance tests. 

Top colleges for zoology in India:

• St. Xavier's College, Mumbai 

• Miranda House, Delhi

• Christ University, Bengaluru 

• Fergusson College, Pune

Famous colleges for zoology in India:

• Madras Christian College, Chennai

• Lovely Professional University, Punjab

• Aligarh Muslim university 

• Sacred Heart College, Ernakulam

• DAV College, Chandigarh

What are the Job Prospects after acquiring a degree in zoology?

• After candidates completing their BSc students may do M.Sc in this field.

• Or one can enrol for PhD in zoology 

• Both the public and private sectors have various career opportunities. 

• Candidates will find jobs as :

  • Animal Behaviourist

  • Conservationist

  • Wildlife Biologist

  • Zoo Curator

  • Nature Educator

  • Faculty of Zoology

  • Forensic Experts

  • Labor Technician

  • Veterinarian.

What is the expected Salary at the start?

• A zoologist at the entry stage (1-3 years of experience) receives an average salary of Rs 5,45,261/yr

• On the other hand, an average salary of about Rs 9,45,068/yr is received by a senior zoologist (8 + years of experience).

• The average base salary of a Zoologist is Rs 7,53,598/yr

(Source: salaxyexpert.com)

Who are the top recruiters in this field? 

• Wildlife parks and environmental protection agencies

• Government agencies and research institutions

• Medical research establishments and the National Health Service

• Environmental and animal charities;

• Schools, colleges, science centres, libraries, and museums

• Universities and research institutes

• Environmental consultancies

• Chemical, pharmaceutical, and petroleum companies

• Aquaculture and animal nutrition companies

Some of the organizations you can join are:

• Dr Salim Ali School of Ecology

• Indian Tiger Welfare Society

• Wildlife Trust of India

• Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)

• Protection Society of India

• Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) etc.

• Central Zoo Authority (CZA)

• Regional Resource Centers of Ministry of Environment and Forest Wildlife

• Wildlife Information Liaison Development

• Center for Science and Environment (CSE)

What kinds of books and study materials are available for the entrance examinations? 

• Mock tests available online

• Study materials available from the popular training institutes

• NCERT syllabuses of physics, chemistry, and mathematics

Some of the important books which can help students to study for the M.Sc. entrance examinations are as follows:

• Zoology A Complete Guide (M.Sc. Entrance Examination) (1969) by Anita Sehgal Dr (Author)

• M.Sc. Zoology Entrance Examination by A Sehgal

• TRB Zoology (PG) Previous Years Model Solved Papers 2017 by S. Devi Parthiban (Author)

What are some interesting facts about zoology?

• Until more modern times the discipline known as zoology was not organized into one field of science, but it's different paths date back to Aristotle and his contemporaries.

• Islamic scholars such as Albertus Magnus greatly contributed to the interpretation of zoology during the Middle Ages.

• During the Renaissance in Europe, the discovery of many new species sparked a greater interest in zoology as a field of study. At that time, experimentation and observation greatly contributed to the understanding of animal life by scholars.