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How to become a Naturalist: What to study and the skills you need

Saikat Chakraborty
Posted on 04 Nov 2021
11:05 AM
Most Naturalists in India work in the field of wildlife conservation. Shutterstock
Summary
Wildlife Conservation is taught at the master’s level in India
Diploma and certificate courses are available in wildlife management

Most people know David Attenborough as a pioneer in nature documentary and a leading spokesperson for conservation. What is less known is the fact that he’s a naturalist, with a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University. 

A naturalist is someone with a deep interest in nature and in learning about the natural habitat of animals and plants. In this role, one studies life forms in their own environment and explores the complex relationship between different species.

Why become a Naturalist

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Skills needed to become a Naturalist

How do you become a Naturalist in India

There is no particular pathway to pursue a career as a Naturalist. It is an interdisciplinary field where various subjects are related to the study of nature and its inhabitants. In India, most Naturalists work in the field of Wildlife Conservation.

After clearing your Class XII board exams with science subjects, you can go for a BSc course in Veterinary Science, Agriculture, Forestry, Environmental Science and Biological Sciences. After that, you can pursue a MSc course in Wildlife Conservation. 

Eligibility for MSc in Wildlife Conservation:

You need a BSc degree in Veterinary Science, Forestry, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Zoology or Botany with at least 55% aggregate to be eligible for the MSc programme. 

Top institutes in India for MSc in Wildlife Conservation

The Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 

Check out more here.

The National Centre of Biological Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka 

Check out more here.

University of Kota, Rajasthan 

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Gauhati University, Assam

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Aligarh Muslim University, Uttar Pradesh

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Kuvempu University, Shimoga, Karnataka

Check out more here.

Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh (SF)

Check out more here.

Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

Check out more here.

Postgraduate courses in allied fields: 

M.E.S. Abasaheb Garware College, Pune, Maharashtra

Check out more here.

Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

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Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed University), Pune, Maharashtra

Check out more here.

AVC College, Tamil Nadu

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Government Arts College, Ooty, Tamil Nadu

Check out more here:.

Some of the roles of a Naturalist:

 

  1. Government agencies: Different government departments run projects like Project Tiger and Project Elephant. Naturalists are employed in these projects for research, policymaking and programme development.
  2. NGOs: Different NGOs such as Nature Environment, World Wide Fund for Nature India and International Fund for Animal Society have been working round the clock to protect wildlife. They hire wildlife conservationists to save and protect wildlife. These Naturalists draw up plans and organise awareness campaigns.
  3. Academics: Wildlife educators specialise in teaching school and college students about wildlife, geographic conditions where wildlife can be found, and their habitat as part of environmental sciences. Organisations like Denwa Backwater Escape and Pugdundee Safari employ such educators. 
  4. Corporates: Big corporations like the Tata Group, The Muthoot Group, ONGC, Sony India and Nokia India have included wildlife conservation as part of their CSR programmes. Naturalists are often employed to look into different aspects of such projects.
Last updated on 04 Nov 2021
11:05 AM
wildlife Conservation naturalist Biologist
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