LAWN, N.L. — For Bailey Tarrant of Lawn, N.L. the classroom is about to come alive.
Tarrant, who is currently completing an animal science degree at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, will be travelling to South Africa in June for the field study portion of her African Wildlife Ecology course.
She explained during the winter semester she is taking the classroom component of the course, and in June she, and other students, will be visiting the Amakhala Game Reserve and the Addo Elephant National Park to complete the field component of the course.
“The big part is that each one of us, there’s 15 students, and each one of us will be carrying out our own individual research project.”
The students will spend three weeks in South Africa.
Tarrant said past projects have included topics such as tracking elephants and examining the hierarchy in the pact, to the study of different types of beetles.
Once she completes her studies at Dalhousie, Tarrant hopes to further her education at the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island.
When she first started at Dalhousie her interest in veterinary medicine was mainly with smaller animals, such as cats and dogs.
“Since being at school here I’ve learned a lot about livestock, exotic animals and wildlife,” she said. “The African Wildlife Ecology course really got me excited to learn more about different spectrums of wildlife, and I just thought it would be a good opportunity to experience something like that, that I didn’t think I ever be able to experience.”
She’s excited to gain real-world experiences to add to the lessons she has learned through her academic pursuits.
Tarrant said that since childhood, she has always had a strong connection with animals.
“Ever since I was old enough to understand the question, ‘what do you wanna be when you grow up,’ I’ve always said I wanted to be a veterinarian,” she said. “When I got older, I started volunteering in vet clinics and animal shelters, and learned more about the field.”
She also has a love for science and medicine.
“I knew I wanted to go into some type of medical field,” said Tarrant. “But veterinary always had a special place in my heart, cause, I always had the strong connection with animals, and a strong desire to help them.”
