Australia-Japan Wildlife Conservation and Education Foundation

I found out about this course 2 years ago when AJWCEF held a lecture at my university. It was there I learnt about Moggill Koala Hospital, a hospital that specialised in treating wild koalas, and that this course also involved training for living overseas.

In addition, one of the sites visited during the course, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) Wildlife Hospital is an animal hospital specialising in wildlife that is run entirely on donations and proceeds from the park. I had wondered about how veterinarians were involved with wildlife in the past so the possibility of visiting a facility like this that could not be seen in Japan made me want to know more about the relationship between people and wildlife.

I felt the bar was set very high if I was to work overseas in the future, so I decided to do this program to get closer to that standard if even just a little.

There were 3 veterinarians working at CWS Hospital and during the course wildlife was frequently being brought into the hospital. In particular, I noticed unlike in Japan there were 2 – 3 times more vets involved in the treatment of wildlife, while day-to-day care and office work was mainly conducted by volunteers.

It could be said that animals are a valuable tourism resource and that is why there is a lot of interest and concern for animals in Australia but I felt that wildlife was immersed among people a lot more than in Japan. Even the feeding of wildlife was becoming an event in a way.

I was able to see the treatment and anatomy of many animals native to Australia, so their bodily composition was completely different from animals in the Northern Hemisphere, which was fascinating. Also, as part of the advanced course we were able to see work of veterinarians up close, which made it easier to be aware of how as a veterinarian it is possible to be involved in wildlife conservation. Every day was stimulating and full of surprises; with such substantial contents, you would not have thought it was only a weeklong training course.

Within the various talks I had with Professor Mizuno, “The truth is something you have to decide for yourself” and “Just because a pig is fat, it doesn’t mean that it is happy” are some of the things he said that left a lasting impression. I think there are many things about Japan and myself that I just accepted and won’t understand if I am content to stay in my comfort zone. So even domestically, I plan to live my life with my eyes and ears open.

Finally, I would like to thank Professor Mizuno, Ms. Toshimi, my fellow participants, the staff who made the last 7 days so memorable and my parents.

Kanako Uematsu

This was my first time participating in an AJWCEF training course. I was the only one in the course from my university and at first I felt nervous about spending two weeks overseas with people I had never met before. However, everyone had a mutual love and interest in animals so through living together and doing housework together we all soon became friends over time. When my initial nerves changed to peace of mind, I began to enjoy every day as we spent our nights figuring out together what to cook, where to go in our free time and what to make for lunch the next day.

Also, the staff and locals didn’t only talk about their work; they joined us at outings and parties as well as interacting with us in a very friendly manner, which meant the 2-week course was full of great memories.

In terms of study, we were able to experience things that could only be done on this course such as checking the vitals and observing the behavior of wildlife as well as the process of food preparation through to feeding the animals. There was a lot to get out of this program as we interacted with the animals, noticed their individual characteristics, learnt about their ecology and learnt things from the rangers that only they knew from observing the animals daily. As a result of participating in this course and the various experiences it provides, it became clear to me what I want to do with my life. Anyone who is unsure or lost about what to do in the future, you will find something by participating in this course.

This course was not only about admiring wildlife, it also allowed me to experience up close the serious problems that Australian animals are currently facing, as well as the fine line between their life and death. It was a valuable experience to learn the current state of the living world. Some things may shock you but for those who have a strong will to learn about animals you will be able to overcome this without a problem. Therefore, I would definitely recommend you to participate in this training course and see for yourself.

Miyazaki University Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal and Grassland Sciences 2^nd Year
Shoko Matsumoto

I learnt about the Australia-Japan Wildlife Conservation and Education Foundation when I was looking for activities that students could participate in that involved wildlife. Although it was only for 2 weeks, leaving my school and Japan to be able to experience a different culture, climate and ecosystem has become an unforgettable and cherished memory.

The one thing that surprised me most about life in Australia was that wildlife did not run away even if people were nearby. It seems that since the Australian people do not pay attention to the animals, the animals do not pay attention to them.

I was able to find out about this difference in custom and mindset. Also, by talking to the volunteers and staff at the facilities I felt the importance of taking an interest in the animals in one’s own country.

After the tour finished, I realized I want to learn more about the relationship between people and wildlife as well as the cultures and wildlife in different countries. I want to learn not only in the classroom but also by taking action, going around and seeing things firsthand with my own eyes. I am grateful to all the staff that I met and the friends I made with an interest in the same field. Thank you very much.

Minori Kono

My goal is to have a career in wildlife conservation and participating in this training course was the first step on that path. Despite being unable to speak or understand any English, thanks to the other participants who I befriended and the help of the teachers, it was an enjoyable and fulfilling training course.

The first part of the training course took place at the David Fleay Wildlife Park where we helped the rangers and were able to learn about the ecology of Australia’s unique wildlife and how they are cared for and kept at the park. The rangers were really friendly and approachable so it was easy to ask them anything we were unsure of or had questions about.

The next part of the training course was at Moggill Koala Hospital where we observed the veterinarians using anatomical pathology (autopsy) and they explained the various problems occurring in wildlife. In the morning we helped the volunteers with some of the hospitalised koalas. We were able to hear from the volunteers about why they started volunteering and what their feelings were towards koalas.

We also went kayaking, saw wild koalas, bats and pelicans, as well as visiting an actual wildlife carer’s house and seeing how wildlife is cared for and specific adjustments made to the room to cater for the wildlife. In addition, we visited the University of Queensland and were shown what kind of environment local students were studying in.

On the free day we went shopping and had a good time at the beach. We had a party at our rental house with the rangers as well.

I am grateful from the bottom of my heart to everyone who made it possible for me to have such a meaningful experience the past 2 weeks. In particular my friends who worked through the training course with me every day, the teachers who taught us so much as well as the rangers and volunteers.

The training course I participated in was a really meaningful time which afforded me the opportunity to be among the wonders of nature and learn a lot with wonderful friends. Before the course, I wondered if it might be a bit too long, but two weeks went by in a flash.

The first week was spent at David Fleays Wildlife Park, where we learned about the ecology and husbandry of a variety of Australia’s unique animals. What I remember best is helping the rangers to feed the animals and cleaning out the cages.

The Moggill Koala Hospital was where we spent our second week. Here, we were taught by veterinarians about anatomy and the types of illnesses that are a problem, among other specialist knowledge. We also got to assist the volunteer workers in taking care of the hospitalised koalas. It was a special opportunity to learn through such opportunities as observing the autopsy of unique animals that we could never see in Japan.

That wasn’t all that was in the variety-filled program. Some other activities included kayaking, at which time we were able to spot wild koalas, a visit the home of a wildlife carer, and a tour of the veterinary science facilities at the University of Queensland. Each of these reinforced my impression that wildlife conservation depends on the cooperation of a lot of people, and all of these people are each acting in their own way with the animals at the forefront of their mind. My hope is that one day I will be able to join this circle of cooperation as a veterinarian, so I am determined to put even more effort into my studies.

I also have to say that the Australian people who looked after us were all warm, friendly and kind, and I am truly thankful to them for enabling me to learn so much in such a fun way. I will treasure the memories of these people and my experiences. Thanks for a great two weeks!

Natsuko Sugiura - 3rd year student, Department of Veterinary Sciency, Nippon Veterinary & Life Science University.

I decided to participate in this course because I am hoping to work with wildlife in the future, and because I had become interested in Australia's unique animals such as marsupials and monotremes after previously taking part in my university's study tour to Australia. I was able to see many animals that just can't be seen in Japan, and really got a feel for what it is like to take care of these creatures and understand the problems that they face. Having learned that many people in Australia take part in wildlife conservation by volunteering to work at the koala hospital and the like, and that there are facilities that only keep and display Australia's unique animals, I gained the strong impression that concern for and education about wildlife is stronger than in Japan. Despite this, Australia shares some problems with Japan in the form of the reduction and fragmentation of habitat due to development and natural disasters, as well as issues surrounding introduced species, and it was evident that wildlife conservation is no simple matter but requires the understanding and cooperation of a large number of people. A feature of this course is that it does not impose a certain way of thinking or certain solutions to problems; rather, participants are taught about the current circumstances and given food for thought about how to resolve issues regarding wildlife and how humans and wildlife can best co-exist. As such, there are many opportunities during the course to consider such matters, which prompted me to also seriously think about what I want to do in the future. I hope to put the experience I gained from this course to full use to ponder how to prevent the extinction of wildlife and how humans and animals can co-exist in order to save as many wild animals as possible.

Kazane Arai – 4th year student, Division of Nature- and Culture-based Tourism, Faculty of Urban Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University　

　I’m so glad I joined this course! It was so evident that so many different people – facility volunteers and staff, researchers, vets, rangers and AJWCEF staff are all working as hard as they can to conserve wildlife and the environment, all the while facing their own dilemmas, thoughts and distress. Being able to gain this sort of information first-hand also provided me with a good opportunity to think more deeply about myself and nature conservation. Also, although it was only two weeks, it was really useful to sample ‘communal living,’ cooperating with companions I had only met for the first time upon arriving in Australia, and sharing the cooking duties. While there may have been the occasional disagreement or annoyance when sharing a room, I believe that learning to overcome such issues is important in becoming a working member of society.

Now, to those of you who can’t quite decide whether to take part in the course or not: just take the plunge and give it a go. You won’t know until you try. There is a reason for my enthusiasm in recommending this course; it is because I feel that by participating I have gained ‘the courage to take the first step.’ I hesitated at first because, being a student of tourism, I was concerned that I would feel out of place since I am not a vet or involved in life sciences or even agriculture. However, I love animals and nature and decided to just have a try regardless of what I was studying, and it was the right choice. So, use all your five senses to see what it is that you will feel and gain from the experience.

Misato Hirai - 4th year student, Department of Zoology, Okayama University of Science

After participating in last year’s introductory course, I decided to take part in this year’s advanced course offered in [the northern] spring. The content of the advanced course was of an even higher level, allowing for more in-depth practical training experiences. It was indeed a precious experience to undergo practical training at wildlife parks and other wildlife hospitals to which one can generally not gain access. By actually seeing the circumstances surrounding wildlife, I was reminded of the difficulties associated with wildlife conservation, such as the fact that it is not simply a matter of saving animals.

Rather than just the study of animals, I believe that interaction with various people is also an important element of this training course. I was able to renew my acquaintance with some of the people I had met during last year’s introductory course. It was a lot of fun to spend two weeks with friends, learning about wildlife, and shopping and eating together; it was great to support each other as we spent our time in a culture that is different from our own. Of the four people who took part in the advanced course, two were studying to be veterinarians, while I and another participant were zoology students. Despite differences in age, universities and fields of study, we helped each other out when we came upon new things, adding extra stimulus to enhance our learning.

Through this training course, my own perspective became broader by actually seeing and experiencing things for myself. I was able to undertake both the introductory and the advanced training courses, and I intend to apply the knowledge and experiences that I garnered from both in my future studies. I’ll also be furthering my studies in Japan with the aim of revisiting Australia to learn more about wildlife.

By participating in this training course, I was able to gain basic knowledge regarding Australian wildlife, their current circumstances, and the respo Bynse to those circumstances. In Australia, wildlife is regarded as belonging to the nation, with protection activities conducted under a policy of considering the entire ecological perspective. Australia is much more active in this area than Japan whether you look at the facilities, systems or even the number of people involved in protection, and the people seemed to have a greater awareness of the issues. Having said that, not all the activities are necessarily helpful, and there was much food for thought.

And I didn’t learn just about wildlife; learning to interact with people was also a significant plus that I gained from this training course. Everyone involved in the course - from other participants, to AJWCEF staff members, the vets at the training facilities and the rangers – were all very friendly and made it a very enjoyable two weeks. Although I was feeling less than confident about my English conversation skills given that the training was conducted overseas, I was really happy that I somehow managed to communicate with my broken English! Not only did this give me confidence, but it also drove home the importance of English language skills.

This training course strongly stimulated both my interest in wildlife and my approach to going overseas. If I have the chance, I would also like to take part in the advanced training course. It would be wonderful if future participants in the course are also able to enjoy the same experience that I did.

Even though there are efforts to raise awareness in Japan through school education and the media that wildlife numbers are dwindling and that we should be protecting them, there is a vast distance between humans and wildlife that is not seen elsewhere. While I previously had a vague interest myself in wildlife conservation, I had neither sought a deeper understanding of the actual circumstances they were in nor made any effort to protect them.

The best aspect of this practical training was that it showed me, no matter how limited, something of the actual situation regarding wildlife protection in Australia, and allowed me to speak with those involved in it. It was the first time that I was prompted to give any real thought to how the phenomenon of declining wildlife numbers has arisen; what we as humans have to do; that, although wildlife must be protected, it is no easy feat to do so (every country faces the dilemma of having to strike a balance between development to sustain its citizens while protecting the environment, and considering the overall balance of the ecosystem in the process); and just what is protection and what is its purpose. I believe that I need to continue to learn about such matters, discuss them with others and put into action whatever it is that I can do as a citizen of this planet. I am most grateful to Dr. Mizuno and the AJWCEF staff for providing me with such an opportunity, and to the people at DFWP and the Moggill Koala Hospital who made the training so meaningful.