Enviro Trip Provides Valuable Insights Into Endangered Animals

As part of the VCE Unit 3 Environmental Science course, students visited Werribee Open Range Zoo and Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre. The day provided students with valuable insights into Australia’s endangered animals and the conservation efforts to protect these species from extinction.

At Mt Rothwell, students participated in trapping and monitoring activities, and some were lucky enough to catch, microchip and re-release their animals. It was so amazing to see in person the critically endangered Eastern Barred Bandicoot, which is the animal being studied in class. Lots of other threatened species were encountered during the trapping activity and spotlighting tour, including the Southern Brown Bandicoot, Rufous Bettong, Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby and Long-nosed Potoroo. The group was also able to see the dingoes being fed and eagles come into nest.

At the Werribee Zoo, students learnt about threats to biodiversity and real strategies to protect threatened species. They conducted a practical investigation into the challenges of maintaining biodiversity by quadrat sampling, before going on a safari bus tour to learn about some of the world’s most endangered species. The day was an amazing and unique experience that students will remember for a long time to come.

Mrs Angela McIntosh