Dr. Zubair Medammal
Assistant Professor 

Department of Zoology, University of Calicut,
Calicut University PO, Malappuram District, Kerala 673635 India
Phone (Office): 0494-2407419
Mobile: +91-9447513478

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Zubair Medammal is an Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, Kerala since 05/09/2012. He has been working in the department in another capacity from April 2005 till 05/09/2012. He is having teaching experience of about 24 years in various organizations. His area of research and academic interest include Wildlife Biology, Ornithology, Ecology, and Microbiology. Hailing from Tirur, Malappuram district of the state of Kerala, Dr. Zubair is the first and only Indian to get a doctorate in the study of falcons. He is also the only one who has recorded and made sonograms of 15 different vocalizations of various species of falcons.

Finishing his PG in Wildlife Biology from Farook College, Calicut, he proceeded to the Gulf in 1995 in search of greener pastures. During his visit to UAE in 1995, as a job-hunting expatriate, while having denied even a keeper’s job at a falcon research centre, he took it a challenge, deciding to study more about falcons. Since falcons fly and live at great heights, it is very difficult to watch their movements and observe their behaviour. Nevertheless, being determined to pursue his call, he followed them day and night, recorded their each and every activity, and obtained a doctorate on those elusive and challenging groups of birds. He had received special training in artificial falcon-breeding from Stuttgart, Germany. He is the first non-Arab to be granted membership in the Emirates Falconers Club. Dr. Zubair has visited several countries on five continents in connection with his research on falcons. There are many awards and accolades to his credit including the National award by JC International for outstanding young personality (2006), outstanding research in foreign countries etc.

 

CURRENT RESEARCH

Dr. Zubair has been a researcher in the field of Wildlife Biology, especially Ornithology, for more than two decades. He is very active with audio, visual, and print media. As part of the extension activities, he conducts various sensitization programmes relating to nature and nature resources, and conservation. As a passionate researcher, Dr. Zubair is seeking avenues for collaborations and sharing views on ecological perspectives of biodiversity and wildlife.

Major research, academic, and institution-building activities include the following;

• Research on Avian Ecology under the auspices of IARC
• Riverine biodiversity for fishes and birds in Chaliyar River, one of the major rivers of Central Kerala.
• Investigating the effectiveness of active chemical principles in indigenous medical formulations emphasizing environmental, ecological, and health issues
• Analysis of bird-feather structures and exploration of the micro-biota living in the feathers
• Developing environmental awareness among youngsters on various wild taxa (such as reptiles, amphibians, chiropterans) and human-animal conflicts, jointly between the Department of Zoology and IARC
• Genomic study of microbial pathogens and exploring their prevalence in wet markets and assessing their zoonotic potentials.
• Being instrumental in initiating the International Avian Research Centre (IARC) at University of Calicut, as a joint initiative of the University of Calicut and Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, the Vice-Chancellor entrusted him the responsibility of Coordinator of the centre.

As Coordinator of IARC, submitted a proposal for the five-year M. Sc. (Bioscience) Integrated Program to the Government of Kerala, which was approved and the process of implementing the same is progressing in the University.

 

EXTRACURRICULAR INTERESTS

As Coordinator of IARC

• The International Avian Research Centre in association with Department of Zoology organized One-day Workshop on ‘Sensitization Programme on Wildlife focusing on Snakes’ to College students for sensitizing the importance of wildlife conservation on 04.01.2021
• The International Avian Research Centre in association with Department of Zoology organized a special lecture on ‘The Impacts of Historical Ecology and Global Change by Dr. Marc D. Abrams, Senior   Professor, Pennsylvania State University, USA on 16/01/2020

 

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

Recent publication

1. Zubair, M., Febi A. Bakkar (2019). Molecular Detection of Pathogenic Bacteria Proteus mirabilis Contamination in Chicken Meat in Selected Districts of Kerala, India. Indian Journal of Applied Research. Volume-9 | Issue-7 | July - 2019 | PRINT ISSN No. 2249 - 555X PAGE NO. 8-9.

2. Zubair, M., Febi A. Bakkar (2019). Molecular Study Based on Proteus mirabilis Contamination in Chicken Meat in Selected Districts of Kerala, India. International Journal of Development Research. Vol. 09, Issue, 06, pp. 28367-28369, June, 2019. ISSN: 2230-9926.

3. Zubair, M., Shukkur, E.A.A., Azeez, (2018). Diurnal rhythm and movement pattern of Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus in captivity in United Arab Emirates. Journal of Millennium Zoology. Vol. 14 (1), Pp. 41-44 (ISSN 0973-1946).

4. Zubair M., Varghese P.R., Saji K.G., Sreelatha B. Nair (2018) ‘An epidemiological study on effect of occupational exposure of cement. International Journal of Community Medicine Vol.15 (9), Pp. 17-19 (e-ISSN-2394-6040, p-ISSN: 2394-6032).

5. Zubair M., Varghese P.R., Saji K.G., Alex George (2016) ‘Epidemiological Study on Spray Paint Workers’. IOSR Journal for Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) Vol.15 (9), Pp. 17-19 (e-ISSN-2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861).

6. Zubair, M., P.A. Azeez (2015) A Study of Different Falconry Methods practicing in Arabian Gulf. Proceedings of International Conference on Biodiversity and Evaluation. Pp.170-172. (ISBN-978-93-80095-70-7).

7. Zubair. M., Mohammed Ajmal KM., Haris Parengal (2015) Recovery of Bacillus thuringiensis Strains from Marine Sediments of Kerala Bay and Assessment of Parasporal Inclusion Crystal Protein Cytotoxicity against Parasitic Nematode Ancylostoma ceylanicum. Book ‘Therapeutics of Marine Bio Active compounds’ Pp. 125-131 (ISBN-978-93-846491-4-2).