May Day: Day of singers in the Zoo

Saturday, May 12, will be the day of singers in selected Czech and Slovak zoological gardens associated in the Union of Czech and Slovak Zoological Gardens (UCSZOO)! Especially of those singers that are feathered and also endangered. The event takes place in the framework of the international conservation campaign Silent Forest, which aims to raise awareness of the disappearance of many bird species in Southeast Asia. Several schools in the Moravian-Silesian Region also participate in the program in the Ostrava Zoo.  

Silent Forest

Last October saw the launch of the international conservation campaign of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), involving a number of European zoos and other institutions. The goal of the Silent Forest – Asian Songbird Crisis campaign is to raise awareness of the current huge decline and extinction of bird species in tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia. This is, in addition to the loss of their natural habitat, caused mainly by their excessive hunting and capturing. Some species of songbirds are captured from forests and sold in massive numbers in markets for their exceptional and appealing colouring or unique singing.

Program for singers

The accompanying program at the Ostrava Zoo will take place on Saturday, May 12, between 10am and 4pm. Children and adults can participate in various competitions, quizzes and guessing games. The activities will be themed according to the ongoing campaign. The event is traditionally a collaboration between the Zoo and the pupils and teachers from several primary schools in the Moravian-Silesian Region, who will present their products here.

Singing competition for schools – announcement

In its educational centre at 1pm, the Zoo will announce the results of the singing contest for schools, connected with the show of the winning songs. The task was to write an original text raising awareness of endangered Southeast Asian birds to the melody of a song composed for the Silent Forest campaign, and record it on video.

Collection of telescopes

Remember that you can become involved in the protection of Southeast Asian songbirds, for example, by bringing your old, but still functioning binoculars to the Zoo. Binoculars are intended for Indonesian children who will engage in special educational programs to develop interest in the environment and its protection. Binoculars can be left at the ticket offices at the entrance to the Ostrava Zoo or any participating Zoo. A big thank you to all the donors!

EAZA announces conservation campaigns every two years, and most Czech and Slovak Zoos join in. The Zoos often works very closely with regional schools, and they also include the campaign themes in educational programs or knowledge competitions. Many schools also carry out their own events and projects. “Joint activities across countries and across the various institutions have tremendous strength and we see them as a very important and useful interconnection in nature-related activities and education.”

Source: The Ostrava Zoo, http://www.zoo-ostrava.cz/cz/zoo/novinky/1703-may-day-den-pro-pevce-v-zoo/