ANIMAL Care students from Bicton College have just returned from a 3 week trip of a lifetime in Malawi.

Animal Curators Oli Force and Jane Jennings took the group of 16 students to experience the wilds of Malawi, embracing the culture, lifestyle, people and wildlife.

Working with the Nyika Vwaza Trust (a registered charity in both Malawi and the UK), students visited the Nyika National Park and Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve learning about their anti-poaching and educational outreach work.

Students were inspired by the conservation projects and park management initiatives they took part in and are hoping to continue working with the Nyika Vwaza Trust which also has links with the Bicton Overseas Agricultural Trust.

Oli says, “Hopefully our newfound links in Malawi will enable Bicton College students to work on and implement research projects within the parks, complete work experience, plan fundraising events, and make trips such as this one a regular opportunity. It was educational, emotional and truly a fantastic adventure for all of us.”

The Animal Care students are now settling back into college life, embracing their new £3m Animal Husbandry School on the Bicton College campus as their centre of operations.