The Wild Nature Institute and PAMS Foundation celebrated International Day of Forests on 21 March by planting native tree seedlings at Lowassa Secondary School in Makuyuni. On this very special day, 76 students and 2 teachers from the Malihai Club (an after-school program focused on wildlife and the environment) first discussed the importance of forests and trees. Then students learned how to properly plant and care for a tree and planted 62 seedlings around the campus.

We are thrilled that children in Tanzania participated in the day, whose theme was "Forests and Education."

At the end of the day, we donated soccer balls so additional fun could be had.
This school is located in giraffe habitat in the Tarangire-Manyara region, so this activity will benefit both people and giraffes! We plan to do more tree restoration projects and inspire children to care for their forests, for giraffes, elephants, birds, people, and the planet!

We are excited to share our newest addition to the Celebrating Africa's Giants education package - rhinoceros-themed activities to accompany our children's storybook, Helping Brother Rhinoceros, and our large-sized poster African Rhinos: Conservation Crash!

"Helping Out" meets Next Generation Science Standards as children Pre-K through 6th grade learn about wildlife conservation and inter-dependency of plants and animals using hands-on, creative and fun activities. The activities were developed by Lise Levy, science teacher extraordinaire and Wild Nature Institute's education consultant - thank you Lise! Lise trains Tanzanian teachers in hands-on teaching for deeper learning, and oversees distribution of Swahili versions of our books and posters to Tanzanian classrooms, together with our Tanzanian education coordinator James Madeli.

Click on the image below to download the full PDF of "Helping Out," or visit our Rhinoceros page on our Africa's Giants website.

All of our educational posters Wonderfully Weird Giraffes, Elephants: Enormous and Elegant, and African Rhinos: Conservation Crash! as well as our activity guides "Spot On", "Seeing Spots", "Making it Count", "Trunk Talk", and "Helping Out" are available for free download on our Africa's Giants website. Our three children's storybooks, Juma the Giraffe, Our Elephant Neighbours, and Helping Brother Rhinoceros, are available for purchase by contacting Monica_at_wildnatureinstitute.org. Coming soon is the inaugural issue of our "Nature's Giants with Doug Beetle" magazine, jam-packed with kids-oriented articles, games, activities, jokes, and comics - featuring our beloved mascot Doug Beetle (a dung beetle and ecological giant) as narrator.
These materials comprise our complete environmental education package for zoos, classrooms, community centers, and anyone wanting to share the joy and wonder of nature with children.  FOR MORE INFORMATION contact Monica_at_wildnatureinstitute.org.

Rest In Peace, Bramble Cay Melomys. On 18 February 2019, this beautiful, unique rodent was declared extinct by the Australian government. Sea-level rise due to climate change caused waves to wash over its island home, depriving the animal of food and cover. It was last seen in 2009.