RODBASTON College welcomed two TV favourites as they officially opened its visitors’ centre and launched a new degree course, paying tribute to its “fantastic facilities”.
The college, near Penkridge, went “really wild” as wildlife and nature presenters Michaela Strachan and Mark O Shea led the unveiling in front of around 100 guests.
You can listen to a podcast, with Michaela discussing the benefits of such facilities, with Passionate Media's Neil Aitchison, by clicking on the button here:
Michaela, who now presents the BBC’s Countryfile programme and used to front Channel 4’s The Really Wild Show, was joined by snakeman Mark, from O’Shea’s Big Adventure.
The pair felt right at home opening the centre’s facilities, which houses 750 animals from 160 spices in more than 50 displays including African meerkats, iguanas, Brazilian lemurs and porcupines from Madagascar as well as agricultural animals and pets.
“It’s fantastic, I’ve never seen facilities like this anywhere before it’s really unique,” said Michaela.
“It’s always great to be part of these things, it’s new, it’s different, it’s the only one of its type in the country so of course it’s very exciting.
“I think it’s really important that if you’re learning about animals that you have some hands on practical work and I think an awful lot of colleges don’t do that, so I think it’s fantastic here. To have so many different animals as well, so you get experience with management of different animals is great.
“It makes a huge difference for students to work with animals like this, you can learn so much from books or computers or a lecture but you really get experience when you’re hands on. You need both of course, but putting the two together is the ideal course.
“I think it’s great that visitors will be able to see these animals as well but what is really good is that if you’re going to work in zoo animal management then obviously you’re going to work in a place visitors come to, so you’ve got not only to know how to look after the animals but to look after them so visitors can come and see them and answer questions from visitors. So to have the whole thing as a working animal management course and something that visitors can come to is absolutely ideal.”
The presenters also launched a new degree course in zoo animal management, that started in September, which is set to give graduates the skills to begin a career in zoos or safari parks around the world.
After having photographs taken with students from the college the pair took part in a question time with students, answering queries on a host of wildlife topics. The two then toured the centre’s facilities before signing autographs for fans.
You can see the coverage in the Express & Star here. News of the impressive latest facilities was also carried by Central News, among others.
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