Nine undergraduate students and three staff from the University of New England have recently returned from a study tour of northern Botswana where students gained hands-on experience conducting zoological research at iconic locations such as the Okavango Delta, the banks of the Zambesi River and Victoria Falls.
Students collected data on seven different research projects, observing over 40 different mammal and more than 160 bird species in the process. They are now collating this data and will complete a report outlining their findings for what has become an annual trip run by UNE.
There were numerous highlights, from the safari vehicle being mock charged by an elephant, to watching hunts by both African wild dogs and lions, right through to a cultural evening that gave students a taste of the traditional life of the local people.
Students were able to observe all of the animals that make this region famous for its wildlife, and see first hand the interactions between different species. For example, a leopard was observed stashing its impala kill high in a tree to prevent other carnivores stealing its prey, while students contrasted the vigilance levels of prey versus predators at different locations such as waterholes.
Research projects covered diverse topics from better understanding the factors that shape bird and mammal diversity across a range of habitats, determining a means to identify individual animals from photos right through to monitoring differences in animal abundance between day surveys and camera traps deployed nightly.
This approach aimed to give the students a better understanding of the region’s unique fauna, and indeed further their study of Zoology in the School of Environmental and Rural Sciences in general. By visiting a totally new ecosystem with very distinctive differences to what the students typically see in Australia, students were able to gain both a new set of field research skills, but also a greater comprehension and appreciation of the issues and problems facing animals at home and globally. Projects undertaken have implications for a range of careers such as wildlife conservation, monitoring or human-wildlife conflict resolution.
Some of the trips highlights included:
- A pack of 12 African wild dogs sheltering on an island in the middle of the Okavango, habitat that is very atypical for this species that is usually thought to avoid water!
- Watching herds of elephants of all ages swim between crocodiles and hippopotamuses as they crossed the Chobe River to find food, in the process moving between Botswana and Namibia.
- Close encounters with a range of Africa’s iconic predators, including lions roaring to each other so close that students could feel the vibrations of their roars, cheetah, leopards, African wild dogs and enormous Nile crocodiles all being viewed at very close quarters.
- Students camped in the National Parks throughout their stay, getting to hear the night sounds of Botswana, frequently hearing elephants, hyaena, hippo, lions, eagle-owls and even leopards whilst relaxing in camp.
A similar tour will be run in 2017 for UNE students. To be placed on a mailing list for further details, please contact: Dr Paul McDonald: paul.mcdonald@une.edu.au
View photos and videos from their recent trip here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/blbegzztzuhj4vp/AADmpr1fUTZ8N90zQHfzaiI8a?dl=0