Adventurous biologists will soon be braving life in the desert for the sake of endangered wildlife. Loreto students will be heading off to the mountains of the Sinai in Egypt to survey the wildlife in remote oases in July.

To date just 40 % of the area’s bio-diversity has been surveyed but the biologists will be helping to extend this search. They’re hoping to find such treasures as the world’s smallest butterfly but they’ll also be wanting to keep the area’s desert vipers at a safe distance.

Once the students have surveyed the area in the Sinai Desert, where temperatures will exceed 30 degrees, the students will head for the coast for a specialist diving training on the Red Sea.

The students went on an important team-building trip to Go-Ape in Delamere Forest last week and they have been busy raising money for the trip with fundraising events such as cake sales and raffle tickets.

This is the second survey trip led by biology teachers Ms Seddon and Mr Foulder. They led an expedition to Honduras, Central America, in 2008 for a highly successful eco-survey.

Lead teacher Ms Seddon said: “The trip will be a real challenge but it will be a very valuable experience for them and will also help to ensure the future conservation of the particular bio-diversity of the Sinai area.”