Primary Students meet Action Heroe’s
“Can captured bears go back into the wild?”
“Why do people keep sun bears as pets?”
“Deforestation is bad for the animals in the forest!”
“How can a Sun Bear survive with its hand cut off?”
These are just a few of the bright, brilliant and sombre questions and remarks the young students at Kinabalu International School asked of Dr Wong Siew Te of Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) last Friday when he visited the school and gave an engaging presentation to the primary students on the highly endangered Bornean Sun Bear.
This is not the first time Dr. Wong has visited the school. Last year he met the Year 2 students and added a very valuable, real world connection to their cross curriculum Wildlife Warrior topic.
I knew then that Dr Wong had a gift for inspiring others with his messaging when my kids came home from school after the talk, clearly inspired and very keen to take action themselves to help save the Sun Bears. It really got the kids thinking and wanting to take positive steps towards conservation. And they were only 6 years old! It really got me thinking too.
Fridays’ presentation was the perfect kick-start and launch of the ‘Wild Bunch Bags’ campaign at Kinabalu International School of which two more guest speakers are scheduled to visit and talk to the primary students about marine wildlife and conservation.
Monday 13th January, Marine Biologist Dave McCann of Scuba Junkie S.E.A.S. http://www.scuba-junkie.com/ , will talk to the students about endangered sea turtles and the conservation work he and his colleagues carry out at the Mabul Island turtle hatchery on Sabah’s East coast.
Friday 17th January, students will meet again wildlife cameraman and CEO of Scubazoo.com Simon Enderby (whom I am very proud and pleased to call my husband). Simon will talk about the sharks found here in Sabah and his experiences with sharks around the globe and why a healthy population of these awe-inspiring, apex-predators is essential – not just for their marine habitats but for humans too. Check out scubazoo.tv if you want to watch and learn more about Sabah’s wildlife above and below the waves.
The objectives of the 100% not-for-profit ‘Wild Bunch Bags’ campaign, which is facilitated by Wild Kids Ink, is to inspire kids to connect with nature; get them more interested in their local and global wildlife; and to understand why it is so important to protect it and help it thrive.
You can visit the Wild Kids Ink facebook page HERE and come back to read more blog posts as the campaign continues over the next few weeks and the students of Kinabalu International School “dive” further into Sabah’s wildlife.
Finally yet importantly, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Wong, Dave McCann and Simon Enderby as well as everyone else who has contributed to and continue to support this campaign – I can personally testify that these are true Wildlife Action Hero’s inspiring the next generation!
If you would like to support the conservation efforts of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Scuba Junkie S.E.A.S marine conservation work or perhaps plan a visit to see these amazing animals in person please go to: https://www.bsbcc.org.my/ and http://www.scubajunkiekk.com/environment.html to gather further inspiration.
