Wildlife Conservation Trip

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Students get stuck in on first international Wildlife Conservation trip

Earlier this summer, Bath Spa University BSc Wildlife Conservation students packed their bags and headed for the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico on the first ever Wildlife Conservation international field trip.

Accompanied by Dr Ralph Thompson, Senior Lecturer in Zoology and Dr Miriam Thavarajah, Lecturer in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, the 10 lucky students consolidated knowledge gained during their first two years of university, applying it to a new environment and gaining firsthand experience of the natural world. 

Looking back on the trip, Dr Ralph Thompson, Senior Lecturer in Zoology at Bath Spa University, said: 

“The field course allowed the students to learn survey skills, experience a new ecosystem, get experience of working in a different climate in remote conditions, and learn about the effects of human history on the environment. The students talked about how much they bonded on the trip and have made friends for life.” 

Fully embracing the opportunity, the students abandoned their creature comforts and immersed themselves in the environment. They spent the first week camping in a jungle camp in the Calakmul biosphere reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site.  

The group was hosted by Operation Wallacea (Opwall), a conservation research organisation that runs wildlife and culture experiences for student volunteers, offering the opportunity to work on real-world research programmes alongside academic researchers. 

With wildlife right outside, and sometimes inside, their tents, students spent the week surveying birds, bats, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, and monkeys. After collecting the habitat data, the group set out to explore the ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Calakmul, nestled within the tropical forest of the biosphere reserve and far removed from modern settlements.  

Alongside this hands-on experience, the team attended lectures delivered by head of the Opwall research programme in Mexico, Dr Kathy Slater. The group were taught about the reserve’s ancient history, the local wildlife, and threats facing it.  

As the first week of the team’s adventure ended, they packed up and headed for the beaches of Akumal, known as the ‘Home of the Turtle’.

Diving headfirst into the marine element of the trip and supported by a team of instructors and marine biologists, the students completed a marine ecology course by either snorkelling or scuba diving. Some even completed a PADI open water dive qualification.  

Dr Miriam Thavarajah, Lecturer in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Bath Spa University said: 

“Our first Wildlife Conservation international field trip was a great success. It was amazing to see how much the students learned on the trip – about the environment and biodiversity of the Yucatan peninsula as well as about themselves. This has been a unique opportunity to break out of our comfort zones and although challenging at times, we all had an amazing time. I already look forward to our next field trip in 2024.” 

The students will apply what they have learnt during their final year of study, where they will encapsulate their experiences into a report and creative project.