Today@Dal

For Dr. Dan Parker, it never gets old. Stunning sunsets, sounds of the African night coming alive, watching lions sneaking up on unsuspecting wildebeests and project work amongst the wildlife on the conservation reserve in South Africa.

A wildlife biologist at Rhodes University, Parker is passionate about teaching zoology at all levels and has been running African wildlife ecology courses for international universities in the Eastern Cape of South Africa since 2003.

"Students can expect to be wowed by the sheer diversity of wildlife in South Africa, especially the larger mammals. We also have an amazing diversity of cultures and a rich political history which all culminates to set the scene for a highly dynamic and fascinating introduction to what it is like to conduct and be involved in wildlife research in Africa," explained Parker.

The African wildlife ecology course is an optional three-week credit course for students pursuing a degree in bioveterinary science, a new program being offered this fall on the agricultural campus in Bible Hill.

"The Faculty of Agriculture is proud to be partnering with Rhodes University, one of South Africa's leading research universities and its world renowned wildlife and reserve management research group on the development and delivery of this unique and innovative course. The Faculty of Agriculture truly believes in applying theory to practice, real 'hands on learning' and this is a fantastic example of that approach," said Dalhousie University's Facultry of Agriculture dean David Gray.

Students will be given lectures on such topics as anthropology, ecology, animal behaviour, palaeontology and the climate and history of the region. They will also be taken on fieldtrips to surrounding areas to experience various ecosystems including Addo Elephant Park and Mountain Zebra National Park.

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