A package of awareness activities
A package of awareness activities has been developed to bring knowledge about chimpanzee behavior to regions near forests with chimpanzees to diminish human – chimpanzee conflicts and the resulting poaching.
They include:
- Interactive theatre performances by professional- and school-companies
- Video-sessions showing films on chimpanzee behavior
- a Newsletter illustrated by local artists
- Micro-projects help people to find alternative solutions to poaching
- guided discussion rounds give possibilities for dealing with urgent concerns of the villagers
- an attractive educational and interactive Nature Center at the Banco National Park
Independant evaluations by sociologists are conducted before and after these activities. They question the population about their knowledge and their attitude towards chimpanzees. The results of their analysis are very encouraging with regard to the efficiency of the chosen awareness activities.
Ymako Teatri
We are presenting here a filmed video sequence of the play “Our cousins of the forest” performed by the children of Wonséaly, and some sequences of the awareness projects in the villages; the presentation of the document on chimpanzee behaviour and teaching activities in the schools.
Click here to watch the video.
WMV (Windows Media Player, 2 MB)
MPEG (5 MB)
Read more: "Ymako Teatri" Tours in Ivory Coast (description, pdf)
Newsletter
Please read the latest WCF newsletter here.
Nature Center at the Banco National Park
To take advantage of the potentials of Banco National Park, the "green lung of Abidjan", an attractive educational and interactive Nature Center has been established there. Once a colonial villa, the “Maison de la Nature” was completely renovated in 2005 by the WCF in partnership with the OIPR ( Office Ivoirien des Parcs et Réserves, the Banco Sector), many scientists who specialize in the park’s fauna and flora, the concerned institutions and the local NGOs which participate in this park.
In the “Maison de la Nature” the WCF seeks to increase visitors’ awareness of the need for increased protection of chimpanzees. This includes an exhibit on various subjects, interactive workshops to enhance understanding of the way of life of chimpanzees and other animals (nut-pounding sites, termites fishing and casts of hand and foot prints), as well as educational films and animal sounds in the form of games and discoveries.
This effort continues with an apprentice researcher trail in the arboretum to introduce children to research techniques in the forest and to bring to their attention the heavy threats on the animal populations. Finally, the "Carnet de l’Explorateur" is a tool to guide the visitors in the discovery of the exhibit. It contains quiz questions on posters, games and puzzles which are enjoyed by children and grown ups!
