Posts Tagged ‘Rwanda’

Jun
20

Art of Conservation Rwanda

Posted by in Africa,community-based conservation,Conservation,Endangered Species,Gorilla

Here is an update from our friend Valerie who is an educator with Art of Conservation in Musanze, Rwanda:

Greetings. Valerie here.
Art of Conservation’s students are now more comfortable looking at maps and locating the country of Rwanda as well as the precise locations of the endangered mountain gorilla habitat!

With a colored pencil, Olive locates Rwanda and colors it in. Following Rwanda, Olive locates the East African Community country members which includes Rwanda: Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.

I begin our geography lesson with Planet Earth. Children discover the compasses on maps and globes representing north, south, east, and west. They locate and say over and over the names of the seven continents. I ask the kids what surrounds the continents… AMAZI they respond, which is water in Kinyarwanda. Earth is a water planet with its surface consisting of approximately 70% water. Together we locate the equator on the various maps now on the classroom walls and worksheets. Students learn that Rwanda is located 2 degrees south of the equator in the southern hemisphere.

A FEW WORLD FACTS
Although the source of the Nile River is and maybe always will be argued upon, we know it takes its source in or near Rwanda. Flowing from Central Africa it empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Children color in the Mediterranean Sea on their worksheets with their colored pencils.

What’s the highest mountain in Africa? Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. What’s the biggest desert in the world? The Sahara. More coloring in on their worksheets.

I pass out visuals of the Nile River, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the Sahara Desert.

My big challenge is to teach the kids about the difference between the Democratic Republic of Congo and its capital Kinshasa with the ‘other’ Congo and its capital Brazzaville. That’s going to take some time to master!

This student is busy locating Mali, one of the many countries where the Sahara Desert is located.

I started BIG with a look at the world, then to the continent of Africa, and to end our lesson we study a map showing the endangered mountain gorilla habitat- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Virunga Massif. I want the children to realize that they live in a unique and important place in the world along side a rare animal species. With a better concept of this, they will gain a better understanding of why flocks of tourists travel here to climb the volcanoes day after day and what effects, both positive and negative, it has upon them.

Our students loved this lesson and now they can locate their place where they live on the globe.

Thanks Valerie and Art of Conservation for all their great work at the foothills of the Virunga Mountains, home to half of the world’s Mountain Gorilla population.

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May
20

Experiencing Nature Inspires us to Protect it.

Posted by in Africa,Animal Origins & Fun Facts,community-based conservation,Conservation,Endangered Species,Travel

You come to the zoo with family and friends for relaxation and recreation. It is an easy drive, visit at your own pace, see everything or just your favorites. You come to the front gate excited because you are not sure what you will see first. You leave a few hours later with memories and a few new favorite animals. Hopefully, you also leave inspired to want to learn more abotu what is outside our doors – the wildlife of Texas, Africa, Asia and the America’s.

African Elephant, Zimbabwe 2011

It is that simple. Our job here is not only to provide a fun, safe and relaxing environment for your visit, but too also inspire you to want to care about what you have just seen. And if that care turns to action, then we are doing our job.

Bison on the Snake River, Yellowstone 2010

But what if you are interested in stepping outside our doors with us? Then the zoo can take you there as part of our special tour program with specialized guides and zoo staff to make your trip even more memorable. You visit the zoo to see wildlife. In 2011 and 2012 you can also visit them in the wild. Yellowstone, Alaska, Borneo, Rwanda, and Botswana are all zoo tours you can sign up for now. Polar Bears of Churchill, Manitoba and the wildlife of Zimbabwe are 2012 tours which are under development.

You can learn more about these very special trips at http://www.houstonzoo.org/safari/ and you may contact us at conservation@houstonzoo.org for more information.

Puffin, Glacier Bay, Alaska 2011

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Feb
17

Houston Zoo Wildlife Conservation is on Facebook!

Posted by in Africa,amphibians,Attwater's Prairie Chicken,Black bears,Borneo,Carnivores,Chimpanzee,community-based conservation,Conservation,Elephant,Endangered Species,Field Research,Galapagos,Going Green,Gorilla,orangutan,Painted Dog,Panama,Rhino,Travel

 

Booming chickens on prairies and adventures to find bear hair in the Big Thicket. Leech infested forests? Monsoons? Leg swallowing mud and Sea Gull poo? Wild Orangutans that use bridges and toads with implants.  Confused? Don’t be. Join us and interact with local and global conservation on our new Houston Zoo Conservation Facebook page. Keep up with the conservation department and our partners in the field, and don’t forget to comment along the way!

Link here and follow along: http://www.facebook.com/#!/houstonzooconservation

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Jan
27

Art of Conservation Video: Rwanda

Posted by in Africa,community-based conservation,Conservation,Gorilla

We are proud to partner with an inspirational organization called Art of Conservation.  The Art of Conservation project commenced in 2007 and works in poor rural communities bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.  Kids are given the opportunity to connect with nature and endangered species through various forms of art.  The focus of the program is to empower the kids and instill a sense of pride and respect for the environment and for each other.

Here is a 3 minute video you should watch – come on, it’s only 3 minutes:Rwanda Schoolchildren speak about Art of Conservation

Rushubi Primary School, Rwanda

The new school year has just begun this month for both the Art of Conservation and schoolchildren in Rwanda. The Art of Conservation is not part of the regional curriculum but teaches one additional class every afternoon to two selected group of 50 students studying at Rushubi Primary School (5th grade) and one group of 50 students at Nyabistinde Primary School.

Innocent from AoC teaching students at Rushubi Primary School

There is much more than schoolwork happening with Art of Conservation. The program is involved with a community briquettes and rocket stoves program as an alternative sourve of heating and cooking over charcoal and wood, a local tennis club to get the kids involved in team sport activites, a mini-marathon “gorilla fun run” to promote exercise and staying healthy, rainwater tanks for access to clean water and a number of other initiatives we will fill you in on throughout the year.

Rushubi Primary School, Rwanda

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Dec
28

Breaking News! Mountain Gorilla Population Increase

Posted by in Africa,Animal Origins & Fun Facts,community-based conservation,Conservation,Endangered Species,Field Research,Gorilla

photo courtesy S. Kaufman

The population of critically endangered mountain gorillas living in Africa’s Virunga Massif has grown by 26.3%  to approximately 480 individuals in the past seven years according to the newly released results of the 2010 mountain gorilla census. The last mountain gorilla census of the Virunga region in 2003 estimated a total of 380 animals. The Virunga Massif encompasses national parks in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Some 302 additional mountain gorillas live in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which was not included in this year’s census.

“These amazing results show how the team work of three countries and multiple NGOs collaborating on mountain gorilla conservation has been truly effective,” says Dr. Mike Cranfield, Director of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP). “Not only is the census news great, it’s also a measure of the success of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project’s ability to save gorilla lives in field as well as the dedicated efforts of other organizations and the national park authorities.”

The Houston Zoo is proud to support the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Prorgam One Health Program. To read more go to:

http://www.gorilladoctorsblog.org/field-blog/2010/12/7/mountain-gorilla-population-in-virunga-increases-by-incredib.html

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Dec
16

Mountain Gorilla Holiday Shopping

Posted by in Africa,community-based conservation,Conservation,Field Research,Gorilla

That’s right – you can give the Gift of Gorilla this holiday season through the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project’s Orphan Guardianship program.

MGVP’s Gorilla Doctors care for four critically endangered orphaned Mountain Gorilla patients; Ndakasi, Ndeze, Maisha, and Kaboko. You can directly support their vital on-going medical care  by becoming their Gorilla Orphan Guardian™.

Your Guardianship includes a unique downloadable photo certificate of your chosen gorilla to proudly display and enjoy on your computer’s desktop.

Go to http://www.gorilladoctors.org/orphan-guardianship.html for more information

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Dec
10

More gift ideas that save species

Posted by in Africa,community-based conservation,Conservation,Endangered Species,Going Green,Painted Dog,What You Can Do

Did you know we have an area of the Zoo’s gift shop that is dedicated to benefiting wildlife conservation?  This means that we get to buy product made by local artisans connected to the wildlife conservation projects we support, and make it available to you in the gift shop, with all proceeds going back to these projects.  We carfully select projects that combine conservation research with capacity building for the local communities. This conservation commerce helps to create a sustainable local economy in rural villages that surround the endangered species habitats. 

 

 
 
Partners In Conservation consists of women from rural villages that surround gorilla habitat.  The products from this organization are hand-made by women from Rwanda, Africa.  They sew colorful stuffed rhinos, elephants, giraffes and turtles and fill them with recycled plastic bags.  The production of these animals helps to reduce the amount of plastic in the landfills and to create a sustainable local economy. 
 
Gisimba Memorial Association  is an orphanage located in Kigali City, Rwanda close to gorilla habitat.  GMC serves about 200 Rwandan children who have been orphaned due to the 1994 genocide, HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other tropical diseases, poverty and abandonment.  Production of this artwork provides much needed skills and financial security for the children of Gisimba.

 

Virunga Artisan Products “The Art of People & Gorillas Living in Harmony ”is staffed by locals from the communities surrounding Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda/DR Congo and the Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. 
Only 700 mountain gorillas remain in the world today.  Survival of this species greatly depends on the well being of the people who live nearby in Rwanda, Uganda & DR Congo.  The women of the Nkuringo Basket Weavers Association live on the southwest edge of Bwindi National Park in an area seldom visited by tourists.  The people of Nkuringo traditionally have made their living from subsistence agriculture. Earnings from basket sales have made a tremendous difference in the lives of the women of Nkuringo and their families, including the ability to send their children to school and access to health care.
 

Snare wire art

Iganyana Art Center was created by Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) in Zimbabwe. Fewer then 3000 African wild dogs remain in Africa due to various human pressures.   Poaching with snares (wire traps) continues to be one of the leading threats to the survival of this species. PDC has developed three highly trained anti-poaching units in an effort to control this threat.  Since the first of these units was deployed in August 2001, they have collected well over 10,000 snares. Had the snares gone untouched, it would mean approximately one thousand animals killed.  The wire collected by the anti-poaching units is sent to PDC’s Iganyana arts center, where local artisans from rual villages use it to create beautiful intricate art.  Production of this artwork provides skills and financial security for the artists.  In addition, the program provides an opportunity for conservation education on sustainable use of resources and reuse of materials.

Animals hand-made by women in Rwanda

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Nov
19

Conservation Holiday Gifts

Posted by in Africa,Clothing,community-based conservation,Conservation,Cotton-top Tamarin,Endangered Species,Galapagos,What You Can Do

Consider this your start of holiday shopping and there is no need to get in line at 4 am for our doorbuster specials. Our doors open at 9am by the way. If you have ever visited the zoo’s gift shop, there is a small corner behind the register which we call our conservation marketplace. By marketing these unique lines of quality crafts in our gift shop the Houston zoo enables local artisans to make a living outside wildlife parks, strengthen their communities and help preserve fragile endangered specie’s habitats. 

Much of the product here is made by local communities in Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Colombia, Mongolia and other countries. For example Iganyana Art Center was created by Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) in Zimbabwe. Fewer then 3000 African wild dogs remain in Africa due to various human pressures.   Poaching with snares (wire traps) continues to be one of the leading threats to the survival of this species. The wire collected by the anti-poaching units is sent to PDC’s Iganyana arts center, where local artisans from rural villages use it to create beautiful intricate art.  Production of this artwork provides skills and financial security for the artists. 

Virunga Artisan Products “The Art of People & Gorillas Living in Harmony ” is staffed by locals from the communities surrounding Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda/DR Congo and the Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. 
The women of the Nkuringo Basket Weavers Association live on the southwest edge of Bwindi National Park in an area seldom visited by tourists.  The people of Nkuringo traditionally have made their living from subsistence agriculture. Earnings from basket sales have made a tremendous difference in the lives of the women of Nkuringo and their families, including the ability to send their children to school and access to health care.

So you see, it is not about making a sale for sale’s sake with these products but it is another way the zoo conservation department works with programs to develop economic incentives for local people living with some of the world’s most threatened species.

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Aug
23

What Really Matters

Posted by in Animal Origins & Fun Facts,Endangered Species,Going Green,What You Can Do

It can be overwhelming. Every media outlet you turn to – all the messages are negative. Crime, economy, natural disasters…so we shut down mentally.

At the zoo we talk about the struggle to preserve wildlife and wildlife habitat. People need to see what is going on in the world, but you need to see the positives as well.

In Rwanda, a team of field veterinarians are tending to the health of Mountain Gorillas. In Zimbabwe, education bush camps are teaching children to protect Painted Dogs.  In Texas, the Houston Zoo and partners are reintroducing Attwater’s Prairie Chickens and Houston Toad back into native habitat. In Botswana, our partners at Cheetah Conservation Botswana are helping to protect the health of the communities’ domestic animals and working side-by-side to ensure the safety of their livestock. At the zoo, we recycle and reduce our landfill waste stream. 

A colleague once said to me Human nature does not program us to be proactive until it is almost too late. Well that is dissapointing. What really matters is for everyone to do something positive, just one thing. What really matters is that one thing can ultimately lead to a larger chain of events.

Find one minute a day to step back and look around – have you ever just stopped to watch the birds or butterflies in your neighborhood?  A recent poll found Houston #3 on the list of most stressful cities. We work too much, do not get outside enough (it’s hot, it’s humid, it’s buggy – I get it). But if you take a moment and find one minute a day to do that one simple positive thing – that is what really matters.

…and now for your viewing pleasure, a random photo of a mountain gorilla and his very engaging feet…

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Jul
28

Rwanda Calling? Volunteers Wanted!

Posted by in Africa,community-based conservation,Endangered Species,Featured,Gorilla,Travel,What You Can Do

Looking for a new experience working with children at the base of a volcano where half the world’s Mountain Gorillas remain? If so, you can volunteer with Art of Conservation in Rwanda. 

Art of Conservation, Inc. educates Rwandans about conservation and the importance of maintaining a healthy environment for both people and animals while instilling in them an understanding and respect for themselves, their peers, and the natural world. The Houston Zoo is a proud supporter of the Art of Conservation program in Rwanda

Art of Conservation (AoC)  is seeking a dedicated, experienced administrative support intern to work directly with AoC Director Julie Ghrist. Interns must commit at least six weeks to the position. After six weeks, the intern position may be extended at the discretion of the Director. For a description of the position and application – link here

Rushubi Primary School 5th grade class

AoC also occasionally accepts volunteers (link here for application) for short- to medium-term volunteer placements. Their needs vary depending on the staffing situation and class schedule. In general, they seek honest, hard-working individuals who can offer support in one or more of the following areas:

  • Teaching the English-language portion of our conservation education curriculum. We are particularly interested in volunteer teachers who have a background in conservation, biology, agriculture, medicine, or public health.
  • Teaching the English-language portion of our art curriculum. We are particularly interested in volunteer teachers who have a background in drawing, painting, music, or drama.
  • Administrative work including memo writing and grant research.
  • English-language training for non-English speaking staff.
  • Computer skills training for staff.

Ready for an experience of a lifetime? Well, here is one where you can both learn and give at the same time.

I wonder if Art of Conservation will let me volunteer with them this week...maybe I will just eat some bamboo instead

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