精东AV junior, Georgia native travels to South Africa for summer wildlife internship

August 07, 2019

Contacts :
Jane Stine, Loop Abroad
Michael Tullier, APR, 精东AV Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing

This summer, 精东AV junior Arianna Holmes, who is majoring in animal science, spent two weeks in South Africa helping animals and learning hands-on what it鈥檚 like to be a veterinarian. Traveling with the study-abroad organization Loop Abroad, the Covington, Georgia, native served with a small team that volunteered at the Lory Park Zoo in Johannesburg, helping to care for and study African animals.

Students working as part of the Loop Abroad team learned from the conservation professionals at the Lory Park Zoo, one of only six in Africa accredited by the Pan African Association of Zoos and Aquaria. The zoo leads conservation efforts such as research in black-footed cats and education programs in local schools, and has recently been in the news for providing radiation cancer treatment for Chaos the lion.

Holmes and her team observed and worked with veterinarians to care for a variety of species 鈥� from big cats such as lions and tigers to primates such as lemurs and gibbons. They studied the needs of these animals in order to understand how their diets, enclosures and enrichments are designed to keep them physically and mentally healthy.

鈥淭his was the opportunity of a lifetime,鈥� Holmes explained. 鈥淚 gained so much hands-on experience I would not be able to do in the United States, and got to work side-by-side with some amazing vets. This experience solidified my desire to become a veterinarian!鈥�

Loop Abroad has animal science and veterinary programs for students and young adults age 14 to 30, and offers financial aid and fundraising help. Programs range from two weeks in the summer to a full semester abroad, and college credit through Iowa Wesleyan University is available.

By following a study abroad model instead of a 鈥渧oluntourism鈥� model, Loop focuses on educating its students so that they can contribute and serve in meaningful ways. It also works with locally run animal welfare organizations so that students contribute to long-term improvement on the ground in the countries they visit. With programs in Thailand, Ecuador, South Africa and Australia, Loop Abroad is able to support animal welfare and conservation around the world because of its students and their dedication to helping animals in need.

鈥淭his is our 10th summer of providing engaging field courses around the globe, and we continue to be so impressed by our students and their eagerness to learn about the world around them,鈥� said the program鈥檚 managing director, Jane Stine. 鈥淏y partnering with locally run, leading conservation organizations, we help our students to learn from the experts and to understand the connection of conservation and culture, and we鈥檙e always so proud to see what they go on to do after their study abroad experience.鈥�

Students interested in participating can inquire or apply at . Admission to its veterinary programs is selective based on a review of applicants鈥� transcripts, admissions essays, and professional references.

Editor鈥檚 note: Thanks to Loop Abroad for contributing this news item and photos. Photos 漏 2019 Loop Abroad.

漏 2019, 精东AV