The
Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) once abundant in
the dry, spiny forests of southern Madagascar is rapidly nearing
extinction with less than 200,000 individuals remaining. This tortoise,
known locally as kotroky, is threatened by illicit pet
trade, habitat loss, harvesting for international food markets and
domestic consumption. At the current rate, wildlife authorities
predict the kotroky may become extinct in the wild within
the next 5 years.
Something
can, and is being done. Education is the key to saving these populations
from extinction. Conservation Fusion is engaging kids and local
communities to instill local pride and ownership through unique
outreach activities such as a festival of tortoises called "Kotroky-O-Rama!".
Thanks to the support of Zoos and Aquariums Committed to Conservation
(ZACC), 150 Malagasy students from Itampolo Elementary school wore
original Radiated Tortoise costumes to participate in the parade
at "KOTROKY-O-RAMA" on July 22, 2011. The event was attended
by over 700 students, 100% of local teachers, government officials,
village elders and law enforcement agencies, all of whom committed
enthusiastically to taking responsibility for protecting the Radiated
Tortoises in the Itampolo and Lavavolo region, one of the last strongholds
of the remaining populations.
The
ZACC supported project was a success in creating an awareness of
conservation on a local and global scale. The project was achieved
through careful planning, implementation and evaluation, resulting
in positive, measureable outcomes and to act as a pilot for future
conservation initiatives.
CF
Activities at ITAMPOLO AND LAVAVOLO:
Engaged over 700 students in conservation education games and songs
to instill pride of the critically endangered Radiated Tortoise.
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Planning
meeting with Itampolo school. School Director and 9 teachers from
the Itampolo EPP primary school. Also in attendance were Madagascar
Biodiversity Partnership MBP and Conservation Fusion CF staff along
with the Kianjavato Education team, consisting of three teachers and
the Chef Zap. Funding for the Teacher Networking was provided by the
Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation.
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The
Radiated Tortoise puppet, inspired by Beth Armstrong, was present
at all Educational programs. He was originally a Galapagos Tortoise
but was transformed with some paints to have the radiated pattern
on his shell. Additionally, he can speak and sing in Malagasy!
Teacher
Workshop. 100% attendance of all educators in the region.
Activities consisted of: T-shirts tie-dye, Training on the use of
educational materials provided by CF to include books, maps, art
supplies, posters, decorations, face paint, balloons etc to be utilized
in the KOTROKY-O-RAMA festival. Also trained teachers how to play
interactive games with the students to promote multiple learning
processes.
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Above
photos: right to left; teachers from different regions of the island
playing an interactive game to teach students conservation lessons.
The game was created as part of the University of Nebraska at Omaha's
Service Learning Academy. The Chef Zap, or education director of
the region, sings an original song he composed with the help of
a teacher and a radiated tortoise puppet. bottom; Teachers share
ideas, lessons and inspiration at the workshop.
Tortoise
puppet painting. 250 finger Puppets, along with 10 hand
puppets were provided through a grant from Turtle Conservation Fund
and the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership. CF provided paint brushes
and inspiration for the project. Four sessions were held at Itampolo
EPP in morning and afternoon sessions for two consecutive days.
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More
than 60 Tambourine tortoises were colored and assembled by Malagasy
youth to celebrate tortoise conservation with song at Kotoroky-O-Rama.
Korean refugees in Omaha painted the plates yellow at the University
of Nebraska for a Service Project prior to their journey to Madagascar.
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Children
learned about the biodiversity of Madagascar and lemurs, created 70
bamboo lemur puppets and learned a traditional Malagasy song about
protecting the lemurs and the environment. By learning the treasures
their country possesses, they are more likely to protect it.
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Village
of Lavavolo. Worked with entire community of approximately
200 people. Activities included water cycle, clean water and sanitation
education, hand washing, turtle cut outs made by kids in the US, coloring
of wooden tortoises, butterfly/flower project and songs.
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CF
teaches the local community about clean water and sanitation. Often
these challenges underpin conservation initiatives and must be addressed
to improve the lives of the Malagasy people at the local level.
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CF
handed out more than 1,000 3D radiated tortoises created by youth
in the US at UNO's Service Learning Academy, OPS summer school classes
and after school programs provided to at-risk youth.
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Kotoroky-O-
Rama!: Festival of tortoises.
More than 600 kids participated, along with 100% of the teachers,
village elders, government representatives and the gendarmes, (local
law enforcement).
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150
mascot costumes supported by Zoos and Aquariums Committed to Conservation;
ZACC, original songs, 260 painted tortoises, flags, banner created
by kids in Lavavolo, horns, face painting, tattoos, tortoise glasses,
wind kites.
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Presentation
by local school kids to include original poems and songs about conservation
and taking responsible actions toward protecting the sokake.
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Speeches
were given by Chef Zap of Kianjavato, MBP guides, Itampolo school
director, village elder, Mayor's office representative and the gendarmes,
(local law enforcement).
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Children from Itampolo joined MBP researchers and CF staff in the
spiny forests to learn more about the endangered biodiversity in their
own backyard. Children utilized tools such as magnifying glasses and
binoculars as they learned how scientists and Malagasy students collect
data about the tortoises and their environment. Kids were engaged
in doing a transect to count the number of tortoises they saw in a
given section of forest. GPS coordinates collected by the MBP helped
identify an area abundant with tortoises.
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The
students also learn about the important conservation work the MBP
has been conducting in the region since 2007. Local children do not
even touch the tortoises because of a taboo, however, they are committed
to protecting them from poachers.
Movie
Night Over 200 people attended to view photos of themselves
participating in conservation projects. This was amazing as they saw
themselves on the screen as the heroes.
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Unique
Challenges:
The hats requested in the ZACC grant were no longer available, however,
we ordered giraffe hats instead. Since there are no hippos, giraffes,
lions or zebras on the "real" island of Madagascar, CF,
along with the help of Megan McGuire and an afterschool class of children
in Omaha, modified the hats to look like tortoises. It was a great
experience and the kids loved seeing their efforts in action with
the Malagasy youth celebrating their amazing biodiversity.
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THANK
YOU ZACC! This project was possible with your generous support.
We applaud your dedication and commitment to conservation and look
forward to partnering with you in the future to educate and empower
kids, teachers and communities to protect endangered species.
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Financial
Statement: Project Budget
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The
above budget reflects how the funds were allocated. Our original
request was for $2,389 and included 200 Radiated Tortoise costumes.
We were able to purchase the costumes for 150 children and with
the remaining funds we carried out the additional components of
the original proposal to include the 3D tortoises. Moreover, CF
used the additional $200 to purchase and ship art supplies to the
children in Lavavolo.
The
impacts of this program were far-reaching on a local and global
scale. The communities of Lavavolo and Itampolo have enthusiastically
embraced taking on the responsibility of protecting the critically
endangered Radiated Tortoise. CF has strengthened an important relationship
with the teachers of Kianjavato and forged new partnerships with
the government and teachers in the southwestern portion of the island.
We
plan to construct a school for the children in Lavavolo with the
help of the community and the Chef Zap (Superintendent of Education
). Most of the children from this small village and 2 adjacent villages
do not attend school simply because they cannot walk the 20 kilometers
in the extreme heat of the region until they are 10-12 years old.
In fact, many of the youth who participated in the educational activities
were in their teens but still at a 1st grade level. Once they are
old enough to walk the distance, many must abandon their education
to help with daily chores such as fetching water and herding zebu.
We have initiated multiple programs and conservation endeavors to
address these issues and hope to share them with the conservation
community upon the completion of our complete evaluation of the
project.
THANK
YOU again for all your support of our project and for all you do
for conservation!
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Sincerely,
Susie McGuire
Conservation Fusion, Inc
5820 Spring St
Omaha, NE 68106
402.981.2975
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