Apr 7 2011 4:50PM
A group of students who went on a conservational trip of a lifetime to South Africa, have vowed to return to help a variety of animal protection projects.
The University Campus Suffolk (UCS) Otley learners (who are based at Otley College), recently visited the Mankwe wildlife reserve in South Africa for a study trip.
So touched were they by the tales of poaching, many are looking to go back over the next 12 months to support the efforts of those at the reserve.
The ten day stay saw learners – who are all studying on a Foundation degree course with UCS Otley - gain knowledge on a variety of conservational projects at a location based two hours from Johannesburg.
The reserve was a 12,000 acre site that has animals including white rhino, zebra, jackals, giraffe and a number of antelope species.
Head of higher education at UCS Otley, Denis McAuley, said, “What was learnt on this trip gave all of our students a real thirst for the possibilities of a career in this industry. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and the sort of experience that can give our students a real edge when they begin their careers.”
“The fact that some students will be returning to deepen their understanding of life at a nature reserve proves that trips like this can positively change lives.”
20 year old Darryl Lott from Colchester, who has been at Otley for four years and is currently studying at UCS Otley, said, “You can’t beat the experience of seeing animals in their natural habitat. The scariest moment was being confronted by an angry cobra. Overall, I’m incredibly enthused and this experience will definitely assist with my studies.”
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