17.04.07
Zoo donates droppings to Cornwall College Newquay

Zoological Conservation students at Cornwall College Newquay asked Newquay Zoo for an unusual favour recently. As part of their Foundation Degree course the students needed to carry out a data collection study and decided that animal droppings would make an interesting topic for the experiment. The Zoo happily obliged, supplying various samples for the students to test for ringworm and tapeworm.

Imogen Ahern, Zoological Conservation Foundation Degree tutor, said: "This was a great experiment for the students and formed part of their health, hygiene and welfare module. The idea behind it was to show the students what was involved in data collection, dissection, macroscopic and microscopic study."

The students had a mixture of droppings to study from herbivores and omnivores including that from Alpaca, Red Panda, Goat, Zebu, Prairie Dog, Kinkajou, Lechwe and Zebra.

"The range of samples that we had enabled us to carry out an in depth study and gave us the opportunity to hone various techniques. The animals at the zoo are well looked after and so we didn't find any evidence of ringworm or tapeworm, but the data collection study was invaluable, enabling us to learn more about investigative procedures, essential for sustained animal health."

The Zoological Conservation Foundation Degree is one of five Higher Education courses run at Cornwall College Newquay and validated by the University of Plymouth. The course, which was developed in conjunction with Newquay Zoo, has grown in popularity over the four years it has been running and includes the study of Animal Nutrition, Primate Behaviour and Learning, Captive Breeding and Reintroduction and many more. The campus has enjoyed recent investment in new buildings and facilities from the Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative, in which Objective One has invested through the European Regional Development Fund.

John Latham, Principal of Cornwall College, said: "This unusual request has given the students a valuable insight into the diverse nature of the industry."

For further information contact Kerry Trevenna on 01637 857928 or email kerry.trevenna@cornwall.ac.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) project, both Phase 1 and Phase 2, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). Cornwall College and the University of Plymouth are partners of the CUC.

Editor's notes:

Cornwall College is the largest college in the UK with over 45,000 students.

Cornwall College has seven campuses in Cornwall, these are: Camborne, St Austell, Saltash, Newquay, Duchy College Rosewarne, Duchy College Stoke Climsland and Falmouth Marine School.

University courses are approved by the University of Plymouth.

Cornwall College is a partner in the Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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