Students Visit Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center
$February 17, 2009
Originally Published by Wildlife Alliance
Students from Koh Kong Province in Cambodia recently visited the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center located just outside of the capital, Phnom Penh.
Coordinated by Wildlife Alliance's Kouprey Express environmental education unit, students were selected from 10 different schools around Koh Kong, including from the village of Chi Phat where Wildlife Alliance has initiated a community-based ecotourism project.
The students were broken into five groups, each bearing the name of a wild animal, before they excitedly boarded the Kouprey bus. They sang songs, played games and told jokes throughout the roadtrip.
During the few days spent visiting the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, they were introduced to different animals and engaged in environmental awareness-raising activities.
After a warm reception from PTWRC staff and a special presentation, the students were taken on a 2-hour tour of the rescue center, where they were introduced to many animals, including Chhouk, the young bull elephant who lost part of his foot to a snare in 2007.
Students were encouraged to record and talk about what they had learned. After the tour and a short lunch break, the students broke into their groups to draw pictures of an animal, which they then presented to their other classmates.
They then played games such as animal charades and 'tiger chasing a blind deer,' before heading back to Phnom Penh.
That evening, as a special treat, the students and teachers went into the capital to visit the night market, Royal Palace, City Park and Independent Monument.
By the end of the trip, the students and their teachers had learned about wildlife, animal habitats, and various wildlife threats. Students, teachers and participating community members set up work plans to educate their classmates, work colleagues and communities about what they had seen and learned.
