Agriculture News

WKU biology professor Michael Stokes led a group of 11 students on a 12-day African wildlife management class in June. As part of BIOL 485 Field Biology African Wildlife Management, the WKU group, working with Parawild Edu-capture, captured giraffe, crocodile, buffalo and tsessebe (a large antelope). The class also visited Kruger National Park, Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Khamai Reptile Center, Elephant Whispers (an elephant sanctuary) and a crocodile farm. (Photos courtesy of WKU photojournalism student Sam Oldenburg)

Above: Students participating in a 12-day African wildlife management class taught by Dr. Michael Stokes pose at at an overlook in Kruger National Park in South Africa. Pictured are (front row, left to right) spring 2012 graduate Alison Emmert, graduate student Kelly Derham, junior Rachel Beyke, graduate student Merrie Richardson, senior Sara Wigginton; (second row, left to right) Cheryl Kirby-Stokes, junior Lydia Hall, senior John Clark, junior Adam Edge, game capture specialist Andre Pienaar, graduate student Cynthia Worcester, senior Nikki Roof and Dr. Michael Stokes.

Above: Junior Rachel Beyke leads a female giraffe to a truck for transport from one game reserve to another near Hoedspruit, South Africa, on June 11 as part of an African wildlife management capture course.

Above: Graduate student Merrie Richardson feeds a vulture on June 4 at Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Center outside Hoedspruit, South Africa.

Above left: After capturing a sedated tsessebe on June 10, members of the WKU group (left to right) spring 2012 graduate Alison Emmert, graduate student Kelly Derham, senior Sara Wigginton and Dr. Michael Stokes move the antelope out of a truck and into a quarantine pen at the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center in Hoedspruit, South Africa. The tsessebe needed to be kept in quarantine for 21 days and be tested for hoof and mouth disease before being sold to another reserve. Above right: On June 11, senior Nikki Roof leads a female giraffe to a truck for transport from one game reserve to another near Hoedspruit.

Above: During a mass capture of tsessebe at Fleur de Lys Estates near Hoedspruit, members of the WKU group (left to right) Cheryl Kirby-Stokes, senior John Clark, junior Lydia Hall and junior Rachel Beyke lead a young tsessebe to a trailer June 13. Tsessebe were chased into nets by a helicopter then sedated and moved to trailers so that they could be sold to another game reserve.

Above: Stars pass through the sky over Phelwana Game Reserve outside Hoedspruit, South Africa, on June 5 and June 13. The 11 students participating in the African wildlife management class stayed in tents at the reserve during the 12-day course.

Above: Students participating in the African wildlife management class watch an 800-pound crocodile begin to wake up after transporting it from a farm where it was causing trouble. The class spent 12 days capturing and transporting African animals with Parawild Edu-capture near Hoedspruit, South Africa.

Above: Students participating in the African wildlife management class pose with an 800-pound crocodile after removing it from a live trap in order to move it from a farm where it was causing trouble. Pictured are (front row, left to right) graduate student Kelly Derham, junior Rachel Beyke; (second row, left to right) Cheryl Kirby-Stokes, graduate student Merrie Richardson; (third row, left to right) spring 2012 graduate Alison Emmert, senior John Clark; (fourth row, left to right) graduate student Cynthia Worcester, senior Nikki Roof, junior Adam Edge; and (fifth row, left to right) senior Sara Wigginton, game capture specialist Andre Pienaar, Dr. Michael Stokes and junior Lydia Hall.