A MANAGER of a huge game reserve in Namibia has come to Bewdley as part of an exchange with staff at West Midland Safari Park.

Stuart Crawford left the 30,000-hectare Ongaba Game Reserve behind for one month in Bewdley.

"It's very different here but we have the same ultimate goal of the well-being of the animals," he said.

Mr Crawford said one major difference was that at West Midland Safari Park he could deal with individual animals up close, rather than the wild animals roaming the reserve.

"We have been implanting all the lionesses to stop them breeding, which you would never be able to do in Ongaba.

"In the reserve you don't really have the opportunity to get that close to them. The lionesses would have you for breakfast.

"I also got to ride an elephant here, which is the first time I've ridden one."

Originally born in Sleaford, in Lincolnshire, Mr Crawford grew up in Botswana and has been a manager at the Ongaba Game Reserve since he left university in Cape Town last year.

"We look after habitats, species and movement in the game reserve," he said.

"We also look after endangered species like the black rhino."

Even though the reserve is 30,000 hectares this is not out of the ordinary for Namibia.

"In south Namibia, where there is more desert area, the farms can be 120,000 acres but in the north it is more lush and the farms are about 3,000 acres," he said.

Bob Lawrence, head warden at West Midland Safari Park said the exchange programme was set up to swap information, ideas and techniques.

"I have been to the Namibia Game Reserve before," Mr Lawrence said.

"It's quite a bit different from here.

"Stuart has only been here a week and he has already helped me dart 10 lions."