Aardwolves, elephants and lions: Final Year students enjoy African field trip

7 March 2024

While it may have been grey and wet in recent weeks in the UK, final-year students from Harper Adams have been enjoying the warmth of South Africa - on a field visit with a difference!

The students from the University’s Wildlife, Zoology and Animal Science and Behaviour courses were joined by staff including Dr Ellen Williams, Dr Ed Harris and Dr Nicola Randall.

They undertook a diverse programme of activities, including aardwolf research, elephant tracking, and working with rangers to protect young male lions from older members of the pride.

Catch up with some of the highlights in this social media roundup:

Aaaaaand we're off to beautiful to study wildlife conservation.
— Ed (diffuse prior) Harris (@EdHarris9000)

What a great first day for our wildlife, zoology & animal behaviour students. African conservation in action, protecting these young lions from dominant males. Tomorrow will be a research day, on a species much less studied but very exciting!
— Nicola Randall (@NicolaPRandall)

Legit one of the most amazing experiences of my life! Lions being moved to a new reserve and we got to help move them! Wow! ??
— Dr Ellen Williams (@DrElliephants)

Starting research today. Camera traps & den site/termite mound surveys.
— Nicola Randall (@NicolaPRandall)

— Ed (diffuse prior) Harris (@EdHarris9000)

Another glorious day in the South African bush! Today it's aardwolf research - checking for the presence of active termite mounds! Such a great opportunity!
— Dr Ellen Williams (@DrElliephants)

Students elephant spotting.
— Nicola Randall (@NicolaPRandall)

Spotted eagle-owl from our night safari drive looking miffed.
— Ed (diffuse prior) Harris (@EdHarris9000)

So fabulous visiting this school! Giving them pens, pencils, skipping ropes and wolves shirts! And finishing off with a game of Hokey Cokey! ??
— Dr Ellen Williams (@DrElliephants)

Sunrise at our campsite. Today we are practicing telemetry.
— Ed (diffuse prior) Harris (@EdHarris9000)

Today we are looking at aquatic ecosystems, using FISHTRAC and miniSASS to tell us about river health at Zingela! A really research heavy camp, lots of fun! With students,
— Dr Ellen Williams (@DrElliephants)

Setting up a relay station for fish conservation monitoring in
— Ed (diffuse prior) Harris (@EdHarris9000)

wildlife, zoology and animal behaviour students had an incredible time at Research - learning about African conservation in this Big 5 Reserve.
— Gap Africa Projects (@GAP__AFRICA)

Close encounters & then, something I have never seen before, surfing! What a start to the final day of our
— Nicola Randall (@NicolaPRandall)

Sometimes you do things that make you reassess your life and your choices... This was one of those epic opportunities! What a fabulous fieldtrip! Thanks and for letting me join ??
— Dr Ellen Williams (@DrElliephants)