The involvement of Children in Wildlife Conservation

Educating Children in Wildlife Conservation

One of the finest tools for preserving nature are programs that spend their time working to inform future generations of the value of saving wildlife. In actuality, wildlife preservation depends on coming generations. Kids are not only the most receptive group, but they can also influence society in the future.

We foster a respect for and appreciation for nature in children by educating them that all living things—animals, plants, and people have the right to life. Additionally, through home schooling, online courses, and wildlife education in local organizations like The Besana Mail, parents, teachers, and children can work together to teach children about wildlife protection. Onita Sibanda (OS) The Besana Mail Community Round Table Discussion and Weekly Guest Host interviews Amos Gwema (AG), a wildlife ranger who has won numerous international awards.

OS: Greetings Folks! Welcome to The Besana Mail Round Table Discussion, where we discuss issues that affect children in our communities. I’m your host Onita Sibanda, I am joined by Amos Gwema.

AG: Evening everyone I am humbled for being nominated to be the guest today.

OS: Today’s topic is Educating Children in Wildlife Conservation. We welcome you Mr Gwema. It is an honour to have you. Kindly introduce yourself.

AG: Also welcome my international stakeholders who are following this program. My name is Amos Gwema I have 16 years working experience in Wildlife conservation. However, I prefer to call myself the Wildlife Conservation Preacher. I work in the Wildlife Law Enforcement Field and have seen many people arrested and convicted for engaging in wildlife crime hence I educate community on dangers of committing wildlife crime. I have won three international wildlife conservation awards.

OS: We know you in wildlife conservation spheres, having won some awards and international recognition. How do you feel being recognized internationally on your work?

AG: It is a pleasure to be recognized internationally, I am highly recognized on international forums because of the following awards.

2018 First runner up African Award on Rhino Conservation

2019 winner of above award.

2020 Tusk African Ranger of year award.

OS: Jumping in to our today’s discussion. You have penned literature targeting children. Does your literature work on children involve wildlife conservation or it is other issues?

AG: My literature targets children first because we owe the Wildlife to them. I also target the community at large because community is the first line of defence for effective wildlife conservation. Note! I have not yet published the books namely Cries from the Wilderness and the other one targeting academics: Guide to Effective Wildlife Law Enforcement.

OS: How many books have you wrote? And what are the titles?

AG: I have two books namely Cries from the wilderness and Guide to Effective Wildlife Conservation.

OS: What prompted you to write these books?

AG: Of course not yet published but I share topics from the books many times. Firstly, I grew up without knowing much about wildlife. What motivated me is that every child should know about wildlife even if staying far away from wildlife areas. That is the main aim and also to instil a sense of wildlife conservation to all citizens.

OS: Are the books for sale and make profit or for donations when published?

AG: I will donate Cries from the Wilderness to schools but the Guide on Effective Wildlife Conservation will be sold at low price to help further conservation programmes.

OS: How do you see your literature work changing the lives of children in Hwange District and the wildlife conservation efforts?

AG: Literature can effectively change lives especially school children. Some of the books I have donated for example Africa our Home from Tusk (UK) has material for current syllabus hence it changes lives of school children for easy reference.

OS: Which organisations or partners are you working with in your projects?

AG: I work with following organisations

Tusk UK suppliers of Textbooks titled Africa Our Home

International Elephant Foundation USA

Bhejane Trust

Tikki Hywood Foundation

Wilderness Safaris

And many other but not forgetting Save African Rhino Foundation. There is also International Game Ranger Association.

OS: Can we look for any published literature from you any time soon? And if yes, may you kindly tease us?

AG: Yes, the book titled Cries from the Wilderness should be out by 1^st August this year.

OS: How can a media house like The Besana Mail be involved with your work and help children?

AG: The media houses should report incidences whereby people are convicted on wildlife crime. For example, illegal possession of ivory is 9 years that alone if known by community will deter others.

OS: Your last words?

AG: Further to that featuring ex-wildlife convicts and hear from them if they benefitted from wildlife crime. Wildlife crime does not pay I want to challenge anyone to come to my inbox and tell me any one person who become rich because of committing wildlife crime. Actually you loose savings through legal fees. The community should not be used by poaching syndicate leaders.

I will advocate for community to realize benefits from wildlife through lobbying for funding from international partners.

OS: Is the feedback positive from targeted group? How do you measure your success?

AG: Feedback is positive. For example, I have a video of two young men who found a kudu on a wire snare and they rescued it instead of killing it. Such actions are what the community should do

OS: We have come to the end of our discussion. Thank you all for joining us. The group will be open for discussions in between sessions. From me to you it’s bye for now.

OS: Thank you so much for such an informative and educative session.

AG: Before I go I want to announce competition for best poetry about elephant or rhino conservation. There is prize for best two and this is open to all school children. This is open contest the poems will be recorded and possibly shared on a platform like this and the one with highest vote will get the prize. Prizes will be in cash, data for studying, T-shirts and books

AG: Thanks very much we need more of such interactions

For more stories like this see below: https://thebesanamail.com/2023/06/23/eliminating-harmful-practices-affecting-children-child-marriages-in-indigenous-and-marginalised-communities/