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Student enjoys wild experience in Africa
Tracking rhinoceros poachers and capturing elephants and rhinos were all in a day’s work for a University of the Sunshine Coast student while on safari in South Africa as part of his degree.
USC Environmental Science student Nick Evans, 21, has returned to the Sunshine Coast inspired by his month-long experience at Skukuza Rest Camp at Kruger National Park.
The Palmwoods resident enjoyed working at the park’s plant nursery as well as helping game rangers and researchers capture elephants for veterinary testing and rhinos for relocation to other national parks.
“There is a one in a million chance of having this kind of experience and it has no doubt improved my employment potential as an environmental scientist,” he said.
“During the captures, we had to liaise with staff in helicopters who were called in to dart (tranquilise) the rhinos and elephants.
“You can do the same sort of work on a kangaroo, but it’s not quite as interesting as a rhino, and you certainly wouldn’t need a helicopter.”
Dr Sheila Peake of USC International said the opportunity for students to travel to South Africa was made possible through funding from the University’s Global Opportunities (GO) Program.
“The experiences Nick had in South Africa have really put his three-year degree into perspective,” she said. “You just can’t mimic the same experience in Australia.
“To come face-to-face with a lion or an elephant and to sense the power of those animals in their own environment is just overwhelming.”
USC Bachelor of Design students Samantha Bell and Pamela Blake were also assigned to a project at the Letaba Elephant Hall in Kruger National Park.
Dr Peake said the pair worked with an interpretive officer to create a new display panel about the ecology of elephants.
“This is the forerunner for a much bigger project that will extend over the next four or more years, that will see design students every semester involved in the redevelopment of the Letaba Elephant Hall.”
— Michelle Widdicombe