Jagannathan Vijaya (1959–1987) was India's first woman herpetologist. She documented the movement of turtles all over the country and worked as an assistant to Edward Moll, the chairman of the World Conservation Union's Freshwater Chelonian Specialist Group.

Biography

Vijaya was born in Bangalore. She did her early schooling there and went to Coimbatore for her high school due to a job transfer of her father. She studied in the St. Josephs matriculation school in Coimbatore for two years and then went to Chennai for her final school years. While in her first year as a zoology student at

Ethiraj College for Women Ethiraj College for Women is an arts and science college for women in Chennai, India, managed by the Ethiraj College Trust. It was founded in 1948 by the barrister V. L. Ethiraj of Vellore. History Chairmen Source: * V. L. Ethiraj (1948–60 ...

, Chennai, she volunteered at the Madras Snake Park probably sometime in 1978. She trained under

Romulus Whitaker Romulus Earl Whitaker (born 23 May 1943) is an American-born Indian herpetologist, wildlife conservationist, and founder of the Madras Snake Park, the Andaman and Nicobar Environment Trust (ANET), and the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. In 2008 ...

and started working full-time at the

Chennai Snake Park The Chennai Snake Park, officially the Chennai Snake Park Trust, is a not-for-profit non-governmental organization constituted in 1972 by herpetologist Romulus Whitaker and is India's first reptile park. Also known as the Guindy Snake Park, it ...

, then known as Madras Snake Park, after her graduation in 1981. At 22, she was recommended by

to assist Edward Moll, the then chairman of the

World Conservation Union The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the statu ...

's Freshwater Chelonian Specialist Group for an India-wide survey of turtles. She traveled all over the country and gathered data that helped reduce sea turtle exploitation. Her research and photography of the slaughter of Olive Ridley turtles appeared on National magazine and led to the then prime minister

Indira Gandhi Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (Given name, ''née'' Nehru; 19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984) was an Indian politician and stateswoman who served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 un ...

to order the Coast Guard to take steps to stop the turtle trade.

Recognition

Vijaya extensively researched and documented the forest

cane turtle The Cochin forest cane turtle (''Vijayachelys silvatica''), also known as Kavalai forest turtle, forest cane turtle or simply cane turtle, is a rare turtle from the Western Ghats of India. Described in 1912, its type locality is given as "Near ...

and she travelled across the forests of Kerala. Her body was discovered April 1987 inside a forest, and the cause of her death was not determined. To commemorate her work and sacrifice, the cane turtle which was found to belong to a new genus based on research conducted 19 years after her death, was named as ''

Vijayachelys The Cochin forest cane turtle (''Vijayachelys silvatica''), also known as Kavalai forest turtle, forest cane turtle or simply cane turtle, is a rare turtle from the Western Ghats of India. Described in 1912, its type locality (biology), type loc ...

''.

Madras Crocodile Bank The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology (MCBT) is a reptile zoo and herpetology research station, located south of the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The centre is both a registered trust and a recognized zoo under the ...

has a small memorial to her next to the turtle pond.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vijaya, J. 1959 births 1987 deaths Indian herpetologists Ethiraj College for Women alumni 20th-century Indian zoologists Women herpetologists 20th-century Indian women scientists Indian women biologists