Cirencester College's Animal Centre has had an upgrade and welcomed some new arrivals.

The animal centre manager and technicians have worked hard to renovate the animal enclosures.

The rabbit enclosure was demolished and rebuilt to provide a bespoke new environment with an internal shed and concrete run with a digging area. The rabbits also have access to an outdoor grassy area, meeting their welfare needs and giving them plenty of space to run and jump around.

To accommodate the new rabbit enclosure, the chicken enclosure was relocated and the snakes and degus have had their living area extended.

New tanks have been brought in to accommodate future new species of amphibians, including a blue tongued skink and a chameleon.

To improve accessibility around the centre for students, the estates team has installed two new accessible sinks, and updated paths and ramps around the enclosures.

Animal care and management T Level students study and work with a wide range of animal species during their time at college, learning how to handle and care for them, and perform daily routines such as feeding and monitoring behaviour patterns.

The Animal Centre houses hot room and cold room facilities, outdoor environments and a variety of birds, mammals, invertebrates and fish.

The animal collection has recently welcomed several new species, including:

• A Sudan plated lizard

• An Argentine horned frog

• Two Portuguese fire salamanders

• A bearded dragon

• A Rankins dragon

• Five African pygmy dormice