CIEE Perth ECS students saving the Australian wildlife

CIEE study abroad students in Perth, Australia, had an extraordinary experience that truly made a difference! Participating in their Marine Field Research Trip to the Ningaloo Reef (roughly 1000 miles north of Perth) as part of the Fall 2014 program entitled Ecology, Conservation, Sustainability (ECS), students had a rare chance to rescue terrestrial life on their way to study marine life. While driving to conduct marine field work, students came across a kangaroo that had been hit by a car in the early hours of the morning. CIEE Resident Director Paul Hollick checked the roo, which, unfortunately, had not survived the impact. However, it turned out there was a baby joey in the mother’s pouch which had survived the accident and our CIEE students were able to drive the little joey 30 minutes to a native animal rehabilitation clinic. The joey had not suffered any major trauma and was considered old enough to survive. Paul and his students visited “Gertrude” a couple of days later and she was doing fine. In a year she’ll be released into a national park not far from where she was found.

This joey rescue in Fall 2014 was a sequel of sorts to the Spring 2014 ECS students’ rescue of 14 green turtle hatchlings. Again, on their way to conduct marine research, students noticed a batch of hatchlings that were disoriented and heading away from the ocean. The students gathered all the hatchlings and took them to the water where they were released into ocean near the Ningaloo Reef.

We are fond of saying that our programs change lives and our alumni change the world. These two stories from down under are further proof that our students truly do change the world…in ways big and small!