by Ann & Mike Scott
Promoting awareness amongst local communities about the plight of the Blue Crane has been targetted as a priority in our action plan, in view of the continued decline in numbers. The Blue Crane is the subject of a striking display, produced by graphic artist & designer Saar Maritz of “saardesign”, as part of a new awareness facility at Okaukuejo. Our taxidermy specimen (funded by the HGON & Partners) forms a focus for the display. The Namutoni Environmental Education Centre (NEEC) has come to the fore with strong support for reaching these communities to the north of the Etosha Park who can influence the cranes when they visit these areas in winter. Young learners of all ages are the main target group for spreading the message.
Our popular crane activity book, which Kasha Ostbloom illustrated and helped us produce in 2005, has been reprinted. Two thousand copies (in English/Oshiwambo) have been provided to the NEEC to use as a basis for crane educational activities. The sponsorship of the Environ- mental Investment Fund of Namibia for the printing is acknowledged with gratitude. An article has also been produced for the journal of NEWS, Roan News. Recently the Namibia Bird Club made a generous donation of binoculars and a bird guidebook to Vilho Absalom, an Environmental Educator at the centre, for use in the above educational activities. Many thanks, Gudrun Middendorff and Hanjo Böhme, for arranging these useful gifts! Absalom and his groups can now hopefully spot all the Blue Cranes in their vicinity and provide regular reports. Other wetland birds will be included in these conservation activities.
Blue Crane activities at Namutoni Environmental Education Centre Vilho Absalom (email absalomevilho@yahoo.com) Namutoni Environmental Education Centre has included in their Primary School programme the Blue Crane activities.
After receiving 2000 copies of the crane activity booklets,we had a chance to test out the activities in the booklet with J.R. Cam Primary school, a school from southern Namibia. It turned out to be a very interesting activity for the learners. The pictures below show learners doing activities in the booklets.
Ann & Mike