Land and Wildlife Management students from Wiltshire College & University Centre travelled to the Western Carpathian Mountains to help with a major conservation project focused on wolves, bears and lynx.
Students from Wiltshire College & University Centre swapped the classroom for the snowy Polish mountains as they joined a hands-on conservation trip studying some of Europe’s most elusive predators.
A group of 20 first and second year Land and Wildlife Management students from the college’s Lackham campus spent six days in the Western Carpathian Mountains, around 800 metres above sea level, helping with a wolf, bear and lynx conservation project.
The trip, which brought together Land and Wildlife Management and HND Animal Management students, was run in partnership with conservation company Wildlife Seminars, which is affiliated to Warsaw University.
Students worked alongside leading experts in the field, including Michal Figura, one of Europe’s top large carnivore biologists.
Lecturer Adam Harper said, “They got the chance to rub shoulders with leading biologists, which was amazing for them. The week was run by Michal Figura, who is one of the leading live carnivore biologists in Europe and they had the opportunity to watch him and his team work.”
During the trip, students learnt how to track rare carnivores, set camera traps and carry out ecological studies.
They also explored techniques such as skull ageing, using skull features to estimate the age of large carnivores, as well as GPS tracking and wildlife population surveys.
Adam said, “Everything they did, like the field biological elements, is applied directly into their course and the other things they experienced, like using the GPS for tracking, learning how to survey wildlife populations and appreciating the conservation aspects, is all very relevant to their curriculum.”
He added, “We had a mix of Level 3 and HND students and for all of them it was a chance in a lifetime that provided them with some key skills they can apply to their studies, and for the HND students, skills they can take out into the field.”
One of the highlights of the visit was seeing a thermal drone demonstration, showing how thermal imaging can help researchers spot animals in remote forest areas.
Adam said, “They really enjoyed seeing it in action. If you’re flying the drone over a forest it can pick up anything that’s living and breathing down there. When you’re tracking bears, wolves and lynx, which can be quite elusive, it really does increase your chance of seeing them.”
The group also had a memorable close encounter with a wolf pack when they heard howls just 200 metres away.
Adam said, “I’ve been going there 20 years and I’ve never heard them that close before. It was quite magical and something the students won’t forget.”
The students stayed in basic accommodation in the small village of Wojtatowka in the Beskid Zywiecki mountains, far from shops and screens, and spent their days walking between 15 and 20km in sub-zero conditions.
Adam said, “We had quite a bit of snow for the first few days and I think it might have been a culture shock for some that they were in such a remote place. But they were all excellent and coped really well with the conditions.”
He added, “The trip gives students a real-world experience of seeing what wildlife biologists do day to day. It’s warts and all and it’s a very real experience. But they all got on board and contributed towards the work that’s being done out there.”
Adam also thanked the team who helped make the trip possible.
He said, “Michal goes around the world lecturing on wolves and conservation. He’s a global authority and I think the students realised how lucky they were to be there with him. I’d like to thank him and his team for hosting and also Wendy and Lauren for all the work they did to support the trip.”
For more information on land and wildlife management courses at Wiltshire College & University Centre, visit wiltshire.ac.uk.
