Year 12 Longleat Safari Trip
On Friday 18th October, Year 12 biologists embarked on an exciting trip to Longleat Safari Park. Our visit to Longleat was aimed to deepen our understanding of conservation efforts and prepare us for learning about the upcoming biodiversity topic on our A Level course.
The conference that we attended was split up into 2 sessions. Session 1 covered how zoos and wildlife parks collaborate in breeding programs to ensure genetic diversity and the long-term survival of species that are at risk of extinction. The conference also covered rhino IVF, focusing on the northern white rhino, which is functionally extinct.
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Session 2 focused on the topic of sustainability in Longleat. Instead of using plastic cups and containers in their restaurants, Vegware, a plastic material made from plants, is used so it can be industrially composted. Additionally, there was particular emphasis on how efforts can be supported by public engagement. With more than 35,500 species currently listed as threatened, Longleat has responded to this successfully by creating community schemes such as the Acorn Project.
“In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand.”
One of the most interesting parts of the conference for me was Longleat’s support of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy focusses mainly on rhino conservation, which has resulted in a zero-poaching rate in Lewa for over five years, showing how conservation can be made more sustainable in the long term!
After the conference, we were given the 
chance to explore Longleat. To be able to see a variety of animal species - most notably, koalas, crocodiles and lorikeets, truly strengthened our desire to advocate for their survival in the face of extinction.
By Vidula and Joy