Conservation efforts
Conservation Efforts
Kerala is rich in domestic animal diversity. But this livestock never received attention from a breeding and improvement point of view. Lack of studies, recording system and breed description made most of them mere “Nondescript” cattle and buffaloes. The low production of the cows, buffaloes, poultry, and the policy of grading up and crossbreeding resulted in their endangered status. The change of the agriculture system from the use of traditional animals to fuel demanding mechanization was a reason for the rejection of males.
Vechur Cattle were on the verge of extinction in the 80s. The first step towards conservation began with the nearly extinct Vechur cow. This was a voluntary work undertaken by Sosamma Iype and a team of environmentally conscious students of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy. An extensive search in the home tract, as well as other areas, was carried out throughout Kerala to find out whether any animals remained. The “Save Vechur Campaign” was a success. This was the first time an endangered domestic breed in India was being conserved. The campaign initiated a sequence of other DAD conservations and characterizations in Kerala. Again, this was also the beginning of the conservation of endangered breeds in India itself. The uniqueness lies in the fact that this was a combined effort of Scientists, students, field Veterinarians, and many other conservation minded people. This association was later registered as Vechur Conservation Trust (www.vechurconservation.in).
The most important contribution was saving the Vechur cattle from the brink of extinction. The starting of a conservation project to save a breed from extinction was the first of its kind in India, rather Asia and probably most part of the world. The importance of the work was not just saving Vechur cattle but also motivating a series of projects to sustain the existing breeds which otherwise would have become extinct. The conservation work on Vechur started in 1989 as a KAU project and three years earlier to the Earth Summit.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was pleased with the initiative of conservation and granted a conservation project to continue the work. The conservation was not in accordance with the government policy but the freedom for research in the university made this possible. The uniqueness of the project was also the channelizing and utilizing the student potential towards this cause. This small cow today has a place in the calendar on Indian breeds of cattle published by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, ICAR. The FAO has also listed the Vechur cattle among the Indian breeds in their Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. The Trust had to enhance its role in coordinating the farmers with Vechur cows. The realization that the need of the hour was effective people participation led the Trust to take up awareness programmes periodically. A website (www.vechur.org) was launched in the millennium year. This has attracted scientists and others all over. The ‘contact us’ and feedback facilities have enabled the site to become a more interactive media. This initiation of this project and other conservations were done by Sosamma Iype and her team. She was the Professor of Animal Breeding and Genetics of the Kerala Agricultural University After retirement she dedicates her time entirely to the Conservation Trust. A good liaison is maintained with the University.
