NITYA KOUSHIK Mumbai, APRIL 17 NOW you can take a short-term post graduation course in wildlife management, if you want to serve a forest department or a zoo as a wildlife veterinarian. The Maharashtra Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, a state university based in Nagpur, will bring together the forest departments, zoos and wildlife university faculties from across the country on April 21, to discuss the need for post-graduation diploma course in wildlife health care and management. The MAFSU recognises all the major veterinary colleges across the state, including Bombay Veterinary College in Parel. The main intention for introducing the course is to aid those veterinarians who want to serve as wildlife doctors, but have studied only to treat small animals or livestock, according to Dr S G Narayankhedkar, dean, veterinary faculty and director of instruction, MAFSU. According to Narayankhedkar, "Today, wildlife population is fast dwindling in the country, especially the wildcats, crocodiles and the tortoise count. The zoos often have doctors who are not specialised to treat feral animals, as they do not understand management and care of wildlife. A simple PG degree will give them the required understanding of wildlife."