SINGAPORE: Instead of heading to the zoo to learn more about
animals, students at Gong Shan Primary played hosts to staff and
animals from the Singapore Zoo on Monday.
"Zoo Goes to School" is the Singapore Zoo's newly launched
programme and Gong Shan Primary is the first school to participate
in this programme.
The programme is aimed to teach students about wildlife and
rainforest conservation through the use of animals and skits.
"Under the programme "Zoo Go To Schools", we are bringing our small
mammals, sugar gliders, snakes and invertebrates to the schools to
let our children have a tactile learning experience and at the same
time we deliver a half-an-hour entertainment programme so the kids
can reconnect and be inspired about the importance of wildlife
conservation," said Fanny Lai, Singapore Zoo's executive
director.
"The programme excites the children. Just now during the talk, we
can sense the children were touched and the learning is tremendous.
The impact is there," said Daisie Yip, principal of Gong Shan
Primary.
"I learned how not to smuggle in animals and ask people not to keep
animals that are wild in their home," said a pupil.
"Do not smuggle them illegally. Do not keep pets for wildlife. If
you are keeping them, just bring them to the zoo, just let them go
in the wild," said another pupil.
The zoo has also lined up other programmes like camps and specially
conducted tours to enhance the students' learning.
These programmes will take place in other 50 primary schools by the
end of this year. - CNA