Level 3 Animal Management students at Pembrokeshire College have been preparing for their year ahead, where they will be based at the popular Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo and working alongside the park’s zookeepers.
The idyllic park based in the heart of Pembrokeshire currently houses over 200 different species of animal and is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The park’s zoo curator, Tim Morphew recently showed the students around on a private tour of the grounds and provided an exclusive behind the scenes peek of the park’s daily operations and animal exhibits.
Tim discussed with the learners the importance of animal conservation and how this will play a vital role in the students’ work experience in September and discussed how they will work closely with the wild cats who are due to arrive in the coming weeks.
“The relationship between the college and Folly Farm works so well as it gives the students an opportunity to learn how to care for a huge range of exotic animals that perhaps students elsewhere don’t get the chance to do,” said Tim.
“It’s clear to see from their faces that they love getting so close to giraffe, rhino and all the other zoo animals, and hopefully we are inspiring the next generation of zookeepers and conservationists!”
The behind-the-scenes tour continued with meeting the penguins and feeding the giraffes via the keepers own private feeding and health check platform.
Students were provided the opportunity to meet baby camel Cletus who, like many other species at the park, are accompanied with a tale to tell.
Cletus grabbed the hearts of the students with his friendly and curious personality and provided an opportunity for lots of cwtches.
Animal Care learner Lizzy said: “I am really enjoying the course, because the lecturers are really supportive and enthusiastic.
“The hands-on practical experience is the most enjoyable part for me and very useful for gaining experience of working with a large range of animals.
“In September we will be working alongside the keepers and gaining knowledge and understanding of how a zoo works.
“I am really looking forward to this part of the course and having real industry experience will help with my future endeavours.
“I would highly recommend the Level 3 Animal Care Course at the College, it helps prepare you for a life of working with animals, both practically and theoretically.
“We learn with lecturers who come from a wide variety of backgrounds which involved working with animals and now we get to work with real zookeepers too.
“After this course I would like to go on to do a degree in Animal Welfare and Ethics. This will hopefully enable me to find a career as an Animal Behaviourist or Zookeeper.”
The Colleges’ Level 3 Animal Management course allows the students to be based at Folly Farm where they will study and work hands on in the park with a variety of species under the supervision of the Zookeepers.
Their work experience involves cleaning out exhibits, being involved in animal conservation, feeding, grooming and health checks.
Currently these students are the only work experience candidates onsite at Folly Farm opening many doors to the world of domestic and exotic animal care.
Animal Care Lecturer Kim said: “Our Level 3 Animal Management learners have the unique opportunity of not just having a classroom out at Folly Farm, which overlooks the Rhino enclosure, but also the incredible experience of working with the Zookeepers.
“This is an amazing chance to build on skills and passion, which, alongside Level 3, can open many doors to working in the industry.
“The Level 3 course provides the perfect stepping stone to university or straight out into the workplace, no matter what the route of choice, be it veterinary, conservation, animal keeping or anything else!”
