Students at the College of West Anglia are gaining hands-on experience with a new species after Maverick, the skunk arrived at the College’s Wisbech Animal Centre.

The new arrival is part of wider developments designed to broaden the range of animals available for learning and prepare students for careers across animal welfare, rescue centres, zoological collections and conservation.

Maverick joins the College’s growing collection of animals and will help learners develop practical skills in animal behaviour, welfare, enrichment, nutrition and specialist husbandry; while gaining experience with species they may encounter in industry settings.

The development reflects the Wisbech Animal Centre’s ambition to offer students exposure to a wider variety of animals beyond traditional companion species, supporting the delivery of Animal Care, Animal Management and T Level programmes.

Students will be able to study species-specific welfare requirements, behavioural adaptations and environmental enrichment techniques, helping them build the knowledge and confidence required for progression into higher education and employment within the animal sector.

Donna Woodruff, Programme Manager for Animal Care and Dog Grooming at CWA Wisbech said, “Maverick is a fantastic addition to our Wisbech Campus animal collection, enhancing the diversity of exotic mammal species our learners can work with. Providing opportunities like this allows students to gain unique, real-world experience that sets them apart in the industry and strengthens our commitment to providing hands-on, industry-relevant animal care education.”

The arrival also forms part of a wider investment in the Wisbech campus animal facilities, supported through T Level funding, creating enhanced learning environments that reflect the needs of modern animal industries.