INQ-277 | Animals in India: Conservation & Culture

Crosslisted As: ENVI277

Topic Description:

From temple monkeys to the ever-present Zebu cattle, animals of India hold great significance in religious traditions including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. These animals are also subjects of intense scientific focus, as in the pioneering conservation efforts of Project Tiger. Our inquiry will focus on the question: How have Indian cultural forces shaped attitudes toward animals? Our work will cross boundaries of the natural sciences and the humanities, taking an interdisciplinary approach. We will travel to observe India’s iconic animals, including tiger, leopard, elephant, monkey, peacock, kingfisher, and cobra, exploring national parks in India. Visits to Buddhist monasteries, Hindu temples, outdoor prayer sites, and historic Gandhi sites, meetings with wildlife scientists at premier scientific institutes, and our own contributions to conservation projects, will engage us in learning about animals, culture, and conservation in India.

Course Types Offered: Travel

Topic Approved: March 2015