A KEEN birdwatcher will focus on far bigger creatures after landing a once-in-a-lifetime African adventure.

Mervyn Needham, of Chaddesley Corbett, will jet out to Ghana later this month to join leading scientists on developing a reserve for endangered hippos.

The keen twitcher, 58, was shocked to be selected for the environmental expedition by international science and education charity Earthwatch.

He said: "I filled in an exhaustive questionnaire after answering an ad from Earthwatch - the offer came out of the blue. Mervyn Needham meets a hippo at West Midlands Safari Park before flying out to Africa.

"The trip will give me a wonderful opportunity to experience a totally different habitat and lifestyle to here.

"Seeing different flora and fauna and living in an African community will, I'm sure, influence my outlook on life in the future."

Mr Needham is more than qualified to take part in the scheme. He is a self-employed grower and a reserve warden in Chaddesley Woods. He also carries out surveys for the British Trust for Ornithology.

However, it can only prepare him so much for his two-week stay in Wechai, north-west Ghana.

He said: "It is going to be a great experience. We will be going native, living in mudhuts and eating the local cuisine.

"It is an important scheme. The hippos are not endangered due to hunting, however, with fishing and agriculture being developed in the area their natural habitat is being eroded.

"The sanctuary will not only help the hippos but aid eco-tourism in the area as hippos are the main attraction."

On his return Mr Needham will draw on his African experience to put into practice a village conservation project.

He plans to enlist children from the village primary school to undertake a survey of butterflies in the area.