A GROUP of Dandenong Ranges tropical biology students have recently returned from a week-long field trip to Borneo, Malaysia.
As part of their studies with Monash University, the group had the chance for a hands-on experience to learn about the plants, animals and ecology of the tropics.
The students visited an orang-utan sanctuary and a coastal national park, before spending time undertaking research projects at the Gunung Mulu National Park.
Among the group were Annie Lamb (Belgrave), Emily Drummond (Emerald), James Chiefalo (Lysterfield), Belinda Comerford (Seville) and Zoe Birnie (Emerald).
Associate Professor Richard Reina, who is a Belgrave Heights local, led the camp and said it was an incredible experience for the students.
“The experience of learning about tropical biology in the real-world setting is a fantastic opportunity to connect lectures and practical parts of the subject,” he said.
“‘Doing research projects on frogs, insects, plants, birds and rainforest ecology gives students first-hand exposure to the incredible richness and diversity of life in the tropics.
“The students also got to see first-hand some of the conservation issues facing the tropics, including the clearing of rainforest for palm-oil plantations and the impacts of hunting on large animal populations.”
Meanwhile, the students couldn’t speak highly enough of their opportunity.
Annie described the experience as an eye-opener.
“It was confronting to witness first-hand the impacts of deforestation within the tropics, but it was an amazing learning experience to research the overwhelming diversity of the wildlife of Borneo,” she said.
The field trip included a visit to Deer Cave, one of the world’s largest caves, home to about four million wrinkle-lipped bats that emerge from the cave each night to catch insects.
Eligible students received a $2000 grant to cover the expenses of the trip from the Federal Government as part of the AsiaBound education program to promote educational experiences for Australian students in Asia.
