Two education officers from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland are spending this month in the Falkland Islands, teaching children about Scottish wildlife.

Sandie Robb and Polly Phillpot left on January 11. During their time there, they will be visiting five schools and various youth groups across the islands. The visit is part of the RZSS School Linking Programme which aims to set up Scottish schools with a global link to schools around the world, encouraging global citizenship.

The lessons provided will allow pupils to discover the habitat, history, conservation issues and wildlife of Scotland. Corresponding lessons about the Falkland Islands have also been planned for Scottish pupils in 56 schools across the country. The lessons will culminate in a school linking day at Edinburgh Zoo in June, where Scottish pupils will be able to speak to Falklands pupils via webcam.

Speaking before her departure, Ms Phillpot, senior education officer for RZSS, said: “We hope this link between school pupils at opposite corners of the globe will create awareness and understanding of the differences and similarities between both countries’ native wildlife and how they can help to protect it.”