A group of animal management students from Cornwall have enjoyed an enlightening and monkey damage-free trip to Longleat Safari Park.
The Duchy College students also had the opportunity to see the incredible Festival of Light, which transforms the famous safari park into a glowing winter wonderland.
Nearly 80 students journeyed through the winter Safari Park encountering lemurs, tigers, lions, wolves and they even dared to enter the monkey enclosure.
The group escaped any damage from the notorious cheeky monkeys and jumped on a boat across the lake to feed the sea lions and see the gorillas, hippos, meerkats and penguins.
Student, Bethany White, said “it was a brilliant trip”.
“We packed so much into the day, it was great to see the animals we don’t usually get to see and the Festival of Light was an amazing way to end the visit,” she added.
As darkness fell, the students discovered Myths and Legends in the illuminated lantern display, were enchanted by the musical Christmas tree show and travelled back through time to an Edwardian Christmas in the grand stately home.
Animal Care Programme Manager, Ed Wainwright, said all the students and staff really enjoyed the trip.
“They got to encounter animals they don’t normally have contact with and they all learnt a lot from the experience,” he said.
“Going to Longleat at this time of year has the added bonus of the Festival of Light which was fantastic.”
For more information on the range of animal management courses available across The Cornwall College Group visit www.duchy.ac.uk or call 0845 60 50 455.
