Alumni profile – Professional Placement Year 

Graduating year: 2026
Course studied: BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation with PPY

Amorina's placements took place at multiple wildlife organisations including Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa and Khmer Ocean Life in Cambodia.

Why did you choose to undertake a PPY? 

To build my experience for future career and gain links globally, also to travel and immerse myself in different cultures and ways of living. 

What did your roles entail? 

At the Lionsrock Sanctuary, a typical day would start with me by walking the site’s dog at 7.45am, followed by doing any necessary behaviour observations, which was usually on two lionesses, Nala and Ruby.

Then heading to the enrichment centre to create enrichment activities for the animals I was caring for. This varied between lions, tigers and a cheetah. I would usually do this all morning up until 12pm, and any spare time I would spend with the animals or preparing extra enrichment.

In the afternoon we could have catch up meetings with the team or go to groom the horses and clean the stables also present on the site. Typically, the day ended with checking the animals and recording behaviour observations. 

At Khmer Ocean Life, on a boat survey day (usually one or two days a week) we would meet early at 5.30am(!) and drive down the coast to where a local fisherman would take us out.

On the boat surveys we would be spotting dolphins with binoculars, then collecting data such as species, group size, behaviour, and boat interactions.

We would typically see Irrawaddy dolphins and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (these are pink). We would be in the boat 'til roughly 9.30am then go and get some breakfast, then returning to the office to input data and finish any extra tasks in the office until finishing early afternoon.

Students sit on a boat and hold binoculars up to look for wildlife in the ocean

How did you find and secure your placements? 

I spent a long time searching and almost gave up. I found the two I secured by searching online and looking for recommendations. 

What have been the best and most challenging aspects of your placement? 

The best part has been being able to work in such incredible places with amazing animals and learn more about them, as well as being able to see the world and meet new people.

The most challenging part for me was feeling a bit of instability, as I chose to do multiple international placements, which can sometimes feel a bit chaotic. However, at the end of the day I really enjoyed it.

Secondly, there were costs involved. Although I had a bursary, I wasn’t able to work whilst travelling and didn’t have the steady income from my usual job.  

A male lion stands next to a tree

How did the PPY support your career aspirations?

Where I am getting quite varied experiences, from marine conservation to a big cat sanctuary, I am still figuring out exactly what I want to head into after graduation, but doing this has definitely helped me.

I have also built links that could possibly help me in the future. 

Do you have any advice for students considering a PPY? 

It can be harder than you think to find a placement depending on what you are doing, so start looking way earlier than you would think.

Don’t settle for something you find uninteresting or boring, do something that actually excites you and work hard to get it.

Don’t forget you still are a university student returning to classes, it’s very easy to slip out of that mindset and that can make going back quite difficult.