A GROUP of students from Ellesmere College took a walk on the wildside with a hands-on experience in South Africa.
The 12 students and members of staff went to Dinokeng where they learned more about wildlife conservation, the conflict between animals and humans, animal behaviour and management and ecology.
The students were able to immerse themselves in the South African wildlife with "no fences", said Dr Tom Gareh, Head of Sixth Form and a chemistry teacher at Ellesmere college.
He added: "They were able to learn how to track multiple species of animals, identify animal behaviour, run eDNA samples for biodiversity monitoring and understand the art of ‘think global, yet act local."
They got to study 'the Big Five': lion, leopard, rhino and African elephant, alongside others, while in their natural environments.
The trip was organised in partnership with Floogerbinder, the first UK specialist travel firm to become a Certified B Corporation, while being committed to raise awareness on climate action and biodiversity monitoring.
Dr Gareh has been looking to give his students these opportunities since 2018, and he wanted a company that was sustainable, that is how he found Floogerbinder.
He said: "It puts students into in-situ conservation programmes and gives them the experiences and field skills required to help create the next generation of global citizens.
"It was an extraordinary experience and one which our students will never forget."
The college is planning more trips, the following one being to St Davids, Pembrokeshire, for the new school year to start on a positive note.
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