Zoology is the study of animal life, which is one of the main branches of biology. The study reveals the evolution of life on Earth, the habits and habitats of animals, and the interactions of animals with one another and also with their environment.

The Zoology Department started its journey as Department of Biology in 1953 with one English medium section in B.Z.C. under the able leadership of Sri. G. V. S. Prakasha Rao, the founder Head of the Department. The Botany and Zoology were bifurcated as separate departments in 1954.One Telugu medium section was started in the academic year 1971-72 and the strength of the faculty increased to nine. The Department has been offering Zoology for B.Sc. at undergraduate level since the days of its inception. The Department strives for academic excellence in teaching and research in Zoology and allied subjects. The students of this department have good placement record across the globe.

Over the years, new faculty and courses have been regularly introduced which kept the department forerunner in teaching and research in Zoology. Situated in coastal region of East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh state, we are in easy reach of diverse habitats including the marine habitat of Bay of Bengal, freshwater and estuarine habitats of Godavari river systems which provide a potential area for aquaculture activities. Thus excellent opportunities exist in this area to work in Fisheries and Aquaculture. As the aquaculture practices were started and increasing rapidly in the surrounding areas, there is a need of Fisheries graduates. Hence our management opened B.Sc., Fisheries with Botany and Zoology combination in 1986 and produced several Fisheries graduates. The Department has the credit of having excellent, well established museum and the peer team of NAAC recognized it as the best museum during their visit to our college in 2006. The Department of Zoology is recognized for its outstanding research contributions to the field of aquaculture at national and international level. It has strong base in teaching, research and consultancy services. Some of the members in the present faculty have received advanced training in research areas related to aquaculture and established active research collaborations with international scientists besides industries and other research institutes in India.

The Department has been functioning since 1954 with a set of dedicated, well qualified, experienced and energetic members with a thirst for teaching and research. A number of technical seminars and training programmes in aquaculture are conducted by the faculty along with MPEDA, Aqua feed companies and university institutes for the development of aqua industry. It may be more appropriate to mention here that the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh has identified our institution as a resource centre in Aquaculture. Accordingly Dr.P.Saibaba of Zoology Dept. was selected by Govt. of A.P as a member in three member Aquaculture Expert Committee and sent to Punjab for the development of aquaculture in Punjab state on the request of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Punjab Shri.Prakash Singh Badalji during August 2014. The Expert Committee submitted a report with necessary suggestions for the development of aquaculture to the Govt. of Punjab state.

Zoological Museum

The Zoological museum houses more than 1000 preserved animals in Jars, stuffed animals in boxes and cabinets, and several models of extinct animals. Many of them are valuable treasures, evidence of rare and extinct species that were gathered from many parts of the world and are proof of the potential of evolution in the animal kingdom.

Mr. G.V.S.Prakasa Rao, founder Head of the Department of Zoology was the pioneer in the development of museum and assisted by Mr. B.Rama Jogeswara Rao, Mr. K.V.S. Prasad, Mr. A. Venkatapathi Raju and Dr.P.V.B.K.R.L.Saibaba. Due to good interest extended by the succeeding staff members, the collection continually grew along with their importance, and the museum received good reputation and recognition. Mr. A. Venkatapathi Raju, former Head of the Department of Zoology served his maximum for the beautification and reorganization of the museum. Various specimens collected by staff members of the department are fundamental basis for the enrichment of the museum.

From the very beginning, the collections served research and teaching purposes. The gates of the museum are opened to anyone interested in viewing the diversity of animals. The museum is opened even on holidays for families, individual visitors, students and teachers of educational institutions who are looking for opportunity to gather information on a specific focus of the exhibits. In order to live up to these requirements, the collections are being continually gathered both from local area and distant places.

We are proud to mention that our museum won the appreciation from the members of the NAAC peer team during their visit for the assessment and accreditation of our college. The chairman of the peer team Prof. Siva Subramanian commended the efforts of the staff members of the Department in the development of the museum. He passed comments in the visitor’s book as “Highly impressive by the different collections and also the maintenance. Please keep it up. Congratulations”. The collection is given below.

Specimens — 906

Stuffed specimens — 40

Models — 96

Skeletal structures — 267
Plastic Mounts — 48
          

Community Service Provided By Student’s Charitable Trust

A charitable trust named “Sudheer Charitable Trust of Biology” was started by the B.Z.C students of 2014-15 batches with Sri.A.V.S.K Ravindra as Mentor and all the B.Z.C students as members on 21-08-2014. The students raise fund by contributing Rs.10-50/-each student per month and also collecting donations from the staff of the college.

The Main Objectives Of The Trust Are As Follows:

• To help the economically backward students of Biology

• To serve Old and Poor people

• To serve Blind and Orphans

• To extend services during natural calamities

The Activities Done By The Trust Are:

• UPS worth Rs.1880/- was donated to the hostel of Louis School for the Blind, Amalapuram, E.G Dist. on 1-9-2014.

• Donated kirana items worth Rs.2300/- to Hari Manovikasa Kendram, Amalapuram on 15-10-2014.

• Participated in Plantation programme in the college campus on 27-11-2014.

• Paid IInd term fee of Rs.1350/- for Ist B.Z.C student, Mr.K.Raju on 27-12-2014.

• Arranged free meal for one day for the inmates of Prasanthi Old Age Home and Louis School for the Blind on 05-01-2015.