Syllabus (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE)

Course Type: MAJ-15

Semester: 8

Course Code: BENVMAJ15T

Course Title: WILDLIFE ECOLOGY AND ECOTOURISM

(L-P-Tu): 3-0-1

Credit: 4

Practical/Theory: Theory

Course Objective: To provide information on wildlife ecology and wild life management To develop basic concept on wildlife tourism To make skillful on Ecotourism practices

Learning Outcome: Students gain knowledge on Wildlife ecology, Wildlife Management, Wildlife tourism, Ecotourism practices

Wildlife Ecology: (LECTURE – 15)

Concept, scope and importance of wildlife; Wildlife values; Concept and importance of population in wildlife studies; Animal-habitat interactions; Effects of intra- and inter-specific competition on wildlife; Prey-predator relationship; Animal movement, concept of home range and territory.

Wildlife Management: (LECTURE – 15)

Concept and importance of wildlife management; Construction and importance of life-tables in wildlife management; Habitat manipulation: food, water, shade improvement; Making observations and records: field notes, datasheets; Wildlife photography: types of camera, camera traps; Field equipment: altimeter, pedometer, field compass, binoculars, radio collaring.

Wildlife Tourism: (LECTURE – 15)

Basic concepts, importance and scope; Sustainable development in wildlife tourism; Negative impact of wildlife tourism: Disruption of breeding behaviour, disruption of parent- offspring bonds, increased mortality, vanity hunts and poaching, increased vulnerability, disruption feeding behaviour; Positive impacts: Habitat restoration by eco-lodges and other tourism operations, conservation breeding, quality interpretation, culling and population maintenance, conservation hunting/harvest, anti-poaching practices and tools.

Ecotourism Practices: (LECTURE – 15)

Evolution and concept; importance and types of ecotourism; Components and principles of ecotourism; Impacts of ecotourism; Ecotourism criteria; Ecotourists: types and code of ethics; Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism. Ecotourism practices; Community based tourism; Transportation, facilities, service; Examples and case studies of ecotourism in practice.

Suggested Books

1. Tourism and Hotel Industry: Manohar Puri and Gian Chnad, Pragun Publications, New Delhi, 2006
2. Principles and Practices of Ecotourism, Krishna Kumar Mishra; Notion Press
3. An Introduction to Ecotourism, Ajay Chauhan; Anmol Publication
4. Wild life tourism, environmental learning and ethical encounters-ecological and conservation aspects; Lima and Green; Springer
5. Wild life tourism; Newsome, Dowling, Moore; Channel View publication
6. Wilderness of wildlife tourism; J K Fatima; CRC Press
7. Wildlife ecology, conservation and management; Fryxell, Sinclair, Caughley; Wiley Blackwell Publisher