Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) has launched a Zoo stories book to enhance conservation education. This happened on Thursday, 14th November, while celebrating the International Day of Zoo and Aquarium Educators at the Centre in Entebbe.
The celebration started with an engagement with learners of Entebbe Junior Primary School where educators at UWEC sensitized young ones about the relevance and benefits of conserving the environment and wildlife.
During the launch of the book, Emmanuel Mukisa, one of the authors, said that this is a great achievement that will continuously help sensitize learners on wildlife and environment conservation.
“What inspired me about this project was to source out something sustainable because when you have these stories documented, even our next generation can read them, hence a plus in conservation,” Mukisa noted.
He also explained that since UWEC is a center of rehabilitation with over 90% of the animals being rescued, an orphan from illegal wildlife possessors, and illegal trade, they have sad stories; however, the center provides them with a sweet ending. “For example, Charlie, an orphaned elephant that came in two weeks after losing the parents, so much information when passed on to the young ones it leaves a very long-lasting memory and it helps us to change the attitude towards conservation.”
David Musingo, the Chief Warden for Entebbe Zoo, and Entebbe Botanical Gardens, highlighted the importance of the day in recognizing the role of educators in the zoo and aquarium.
“UWEC has been a member of international zoo educators for now more than 20 years, and I think we are the best model educational institution in Africa,” he said.
In addition, Musingo noted that the day also advocates nature conservation while making the public understand and appreciate nature, hence participating in conservation in ways like tree planting and waste management, among others.
When asked about the launched Zoo stories book, the Chief Warden said that it is very important because the book inspires young ones to appreciate nature, conserve the environment as well as appreciate wildlife and treasures that God offered the Pearl of Africa.
“The book has stories of the animals that we have rescued here with different experiences, for example some of them came here when they are injured, and others when they were almost dieing but we were able to rehabilitate them. For instance, the elephant that we rescued in Kamukungu village is featured in the book, among other stories.”
Jackline Penina Babirye, the Zoo educator at UWEC revealed that in an engagement with learners, they observed that many parents do not sort wastes at home.
“Most of the kids were like they don’t have dust tins at home, so we have encouraged them to advise their fellow young ones and parents on how to sort wastes at home and also how to reuse this waste among other sessions that included sensitization on the benefits of conservation and feeding of animals,” she added.
In 2021, UWEC launched the first volume of conservation education books for secondary schools in Uganda with the aim to teach about biodiversity and ecosystems, targeting learners both in lower and upper secondary level.
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