By Sadique Bamwita
ENTEBBE
The Management of Uganda Wildlife Education Conservation Center (UWEC), on Thursday November 14, 2024, joined the rest of the world to celebrate the international day of zoo and aquarium educators which is celebrated every year in the second week of November.
The Chief Warden for Uganda Wildlife Education conservation center and regional zoos in Uganda, Mr. David Musingo, called on young people who participated in the celebrations to conserve nature as a way of boosting tourism in the country.
Mr. Musingo cautioned young people against littering rubbish in undesignated places saying such actions endanger the environment.
“Every year we celebrate this day in the second week of November and it’s an important day because we recognize the role our nature educators play in the zoo and aquarium, “said Musingo, adding that it’s celebrated all over the world.
‘UWEC is a bonafide member of international zoo educators. We have been members for more than 20 years and we are the best model education institution in Africa and that is the reason we celebrate this day every year.’
Mr. Musingo also revealed that the day helps conservation educators to connect people to nature and also to make them understand and appreciate nature.
“When people understand nature they willingly participate in conservation activities like tree planting and waste management among others. We have so many environmental challenges that we want young people to understand very well through participation in conservation activities. To achieve this, we have developed a model known as connect, understand and act (CUA) and it has proved a success. However on a day like today we amplify it such that Ugandans appreciate it and understand why we involve young people in conservation activities, ‘Mr. Musingo stated.
He further explained that in order to enrich young people with knowledge on conserving nature, UWEC has launched a book which has stories of animals that were rescued from different game parks in the country.
“Some of these animals in the book were brought with serious injuries, broken ribs while others were almost dying but we were able to rehabilitate them. A good example is the elephant we rescued from Queen Elizabeth national Game Park and featured in this book. Another example is the cheaters that we rescued from people’s homes but we rehabilitated them and are now very fine. Therefore, this book is so vital because it inspires young people to appreciate nature, wildlife and the treasures that God gave us, ‘Mr. Musingo stressed the relevancy of the book.
On the other hand, Mr. Emmanuel Mukisa, a wildlife conservation educator at Uganda Wildlife Education Conservation Center (UWEC), says the book was authored with the motive of sharing several stories on what is happening at the conservation facility.
“It has a rich hub of knowledge that educators share with young people. Approximately 90% of UWEC animals have been rehabilitated meaning all these animals come courtesy of rescue from illegal wildlife possessors. The book will go a long way to help us change people’s attitudes towards conservation. Since the book has all stories documented, this would enable the young generation to read and consequently will choose the right career.
‘If such information is passed on to young ones, it has long lasting memories on them. The book has 34 pages well simplified for learners to understand nature very well, ‘Mr. Mukisa explained.
