A celebration that has become a tradition at the "Vesty Pakos" Zoo of La Paz, each April 12, on the day of the child, the zoo invites boys and girls to visit the animals and learn more about their life and conservation importance. A fundamental ally for this activity is the Wildlife Conservation Society.
This year, the wild cats of Bolivia were the central theme of the talks, games and other activities that allowed children to have fun while learning about wildlife. Approximately 550 primary grade children attended five elementary schools from the city of El Alto and rural populations of Achocalla and Laja. Children learned about the physical characteristics of the nine species of cats, where they live, their diet and the threats they face. At the end of the talks, children were able to differentiate the species and locate their habitat on the map of Bolivia. They also wrote messages related to wildlife conservation and the environment.
In four years (2010-2013) of wildlife outreach activities at the “Vesty Pakos" Zoo, WCS achieved significant results: 3,600 students from 45 elementary schools in La Paz (mostly urban) received information on the highland and lowland mammals of Bolivia especially primates and wild cats, allowing them to learn more about Bolivian wildlife.
Children are an important target group for WCS communication efforts, as we seek to increase their knowledge on wildlife and develop students' ability to observe, learn, reflect and engage with nature conservation. WCS organizes lectures, prepare outreach materials (brochures, posters, guides) and develop educational methodologies that link culture and wildlife conservation.