Last week, the third contingent of students from AV俱乐部 began their journey to the Eastern Cape of South Africa to participate in the highly anticipated African Wildlife Ecology (AWE), a three-week intensive credit course introduced as part of the Bioveterinary Science program.
鈥淭his course was developed for our degree in Bioveterinary Sciences, but more importantly it was developed because there is no better place to see and study ecology than in Africa,鈥� says David Gray, dean of the Faculty of Agriculture. 鈥淟arge predators, interaction between species, game migrations 鈥� the African bush has it all.鈥�
AWE was developed in collaboration with faculty member Dan Parker and in partnership with the Wildlife & Reserve Management Research Group at Rhodes University, who also help to deliver course content. Students from across disciplines 鈥� and the largest group to date 鈥揳re accompanied by Janine Gray and Sarah Gatti-Yorke, instructors in the Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture.
鈥淭his is the third co-hort of students I am taking to South Africa and it never gets old,鈥� says Dr. Janine Gray. 鈥淭here is so much to experience in Africa that each trip is different and I love showing the students my home country and what I studied when doing my degree,鈥� she added.聽 鈥淭here is no better place to study ecology than Africa due to its diverse wildlife and anyone who visits Africa can鈥檛 fail to realize that it鈥檚 a place where nature is still in charge.鈥�
Bailey Tarrant, entering her final year of an Animal Science honours program in the fall decided she wanted to take part in the AWE course because it is a unique opportunity she felt she couldn鈥檛 pass up.
鈥淚 am passionate about animal science and have been very privileged to expand my knowledge extensively throughout the course of my degree, however, getting the chance to travel to South Africa and gain first-hand experience and knowledge about what I have touched on in classes and through my own research is what drew me to the course,鈥� she explained.聽 鈥淚 also believe that this experience will be valuable in my future career as I plan on furthering my education, upon completion of my undergraduate degree, in the field of veterinary medicine.鈥�
A spectacular experience
The course, which incorporates field research, lectures and practice in conservation and veterinary care also involves students completing an individual research project on an area of interest.
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 decided upon the topic of my individual research project yet, once I arrive in South Africa I hope to find something that draws my interest and build a project from there! However, I鈥檓 very interested in animal behaviour so I think it will surround that topic,鈥� said Bailey.
The students will spend most of their time at Amakhala Game Reserve, a privately-owned park sprawling over 18,000 acres that was once agricultural land. The group will also be spending time at Storms River Mouth, a marine coastal ecology reserve, Addo Elephant Park and, as a special surprise, are going to Monkeyland, a multi-species primate sanctuary. They are also going to Birds of Eden, home to 280 species of African birds, and Jukani, an 鈥榓pex predator鈥� sanctuary, in Plettenberg Bay.
While South African wildlife is certainly a highlight of the trip its not all the students will experience.聽 They will be involved with children from local schools planning and running different activities for World Environment Day.
鈥淚 hope to take in as much as possible while I鈥檓 there! I would really like to be able to see a big portion, if not all, of the animals we鈥檝e been learning about in preparation for the trip. I鈥檓 also hoping to be able to explore South Africa as much as possible and to learn more about the history and culture while I鈥檓 there,鈥� said Bailey.
To follow along on their adventure, you can find their blog at