Animal management students from Duchy College Rosewarne have been learning new skills from bird experts at Paradise Park.

The extended diploma students have been visiting the park on a monthly basis to learn more about the diets, housing, breeding and handling of the birds and other species direct from the keepers that care for the attraction’s wide collection of animals.

Course manager Jill Thrower, who is also a senior keeper at Paradise Park, said: “This is a great opportunity for the students to see how what they have been studying in the classroom is used in industry.

“They have been assisting the staff in their daily tasks and learning more about what life is like working in the animal business.”

The students have been carrying out health checks on the smaller animals and learning how to sex guinea pigs, as well as grooming the donkeys and carrying out general maintenance and husbandry duties in the aviaries.

Lisa Grenfell, from Penzance, said: “I love the course, especially when we get to work with the animals. I enjoy all the hands-on experience and it’s great that we can come along to local attractions like this and learn more about jobs in the industry - it’s a good opportunity to get contacts as well as great experience for our CVs.”

Fellow student Jae Leaver, from Falmouth, agreed: “We learn lots talking to the experts and I enjoy helping out with all the duties. We’ve been feeding the goats and working with the owls as well as carrying out general day-to-day tasks.”