Environment Africa has a youth centre in Nkosana in Victoria Falls and facilitates a children’s environmental club called the Eco Rangers. On the evening of 14th July a very excited group of 27 children accompanied by 3 youth leaders travelled by train from Victoria Falls to Hwange. They were welcomed by Wilton Nsimango the Education Programme Manager for the Children’s Bush Camp Programme called Iganyana, the local Sindebele name for the painted dog.
Painted Dogs, also known as African Wild Dogs, are unique to Africa and are one of Africa’s endangered species with their numbers estimated to be below 5000. Zimbabwe is one of the last strongholds of the species and PDC is dedicated to their conservation.
Educating our children about their environment is key to long term conservation
While at Iganyana Bush Camp, the children participated in a variety of experiential learning activities, giving them a better understanding of different species, adaptations, ecological relationships and the importance of biodiversity.
The Teak Woodlands Scavenger hunt gave them the opportunity to learn about the eco system, identifying indigenous trees, birds, animals, listening to sounds and learning to identify animals by their spoor. They were introduced to the painted dogs at the adjacent Painted Dog Rehabilitation Facility where the local keepers told them about the plight of these animals and the realities of possible extinction if they are not protected.
One of the highlights of the camp was a game drive through Hwange National Park, one of the largest game reserves in Zimbabwe, where they got to see first hand the role each species of wildlife plays in its natural environment. They were privileged to see numbers of elephant, a large herd of buffalo and lion that were sleeping after feasting on a kill.
For many of these children, it was their first experience of being out in the bush communing with nature and they returned home at the end of the week with new found knowledge about nature and the environment.
With the dedication and commitment of organisations such as Environment Africa, Painted Dog Conservation and Monarto Zoo and reaching out to people through education can only benefit the long term survival of threatened species and heighten awareness of the great need to care for our environment and all within it. –www.environmentafrica.org, www.painteddog.org & www.monartozoo.com.au
Post published in: Environment