Field Visit Kokkavil

As part of the Mooligaiyeyal – II curriculum, a field visit was conducted for second-year BSMS students to the Kokkavil Forest  Area, Kilinochchi District on 4^th November 2026, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The primary aim of the visit was to provide students with practical experience in the identification and study of medicinal plants, particularly those thriving within Dryzone Forest.

The visit was organized under the expert supervision of Dr. Mrs. V. Sathyaseelan, Dr. Mrs. N. Nithyakumar, and the temporary demonstrators from the Department of Gunapadam. Throughout the visit, students actively engaged in the identification and documentation of various herbs and medicinal plants, carefully recording their Siddha names, botanical names, and medicinal applications.

In addition to field observations, the visit included informative discussions on the ecological importance of Dryzone forest environments and the specialized adaptations of plant species. A total of 156 medicinal plant species were identified during the excursion. Among these were several rare and significant species, including Mothirakkanni, Sivanarvembu, Pathankam, and Thodari which were examined and studied in depth.

This field experience greatly enhanced students’ understanding of medicinal botany and reinforced the value of biodiversity conservation. By integrating theoretical knowledge with real-world application, the field visit effectively met the educational objectives of the subject.