Snake Blitz 2024!

Wild Nature Institute’s CAG education program organized a two-week Snake Blitz to teach Tanzanian children and teachers appreciation for snakes and prevent snake bites—which saves people and snakes alike. From 19 February to 3 March, a whopping 1,694 children from 5 primary schools in the Monduli district participated in the event, and learned all about the ecological importance of snakes, snake identification, how to behave around snakes to avoid conflict, and what to do if bitten. The kids learned through fun activities such as dramatic demonstrations and memory games, as well as with a beautiful snake activity book designed by our collaborators Mirthe Aarts and Megan Strauss together with Monica Bond, and produced by WNI. Children were given a questionnaire to fill out before and after participating, so we can quantify what the children learned and how our Saving People Saving Snakes education program affected their perceptions about snakes.

We warmly welcomed Gwido Aldo to our Saving People Saving Snakes program (see attached photos). Aldo is a Tanzanian snake expert and works with Tanzania Snake Conservation Education and Awareness (TASCEA) developing and delivering snake educational and awareness programs and collaborating with authorities to protect critical snake habitats. He is the perfect person to join our education team to share with children the importance of respecting these misunderstood and maligned reptiles. Veila and Jackline did an absolutely amazing job organizing the Snake Blitz with 2 visits to each of the 5 primary schools. They distributed 700 snake activity books, brought 175 children to visit the Meserani Snake Park to see snakes first-hand, and took 62 kids on a nature walk near the school. It was an exhausting but productive two weeks!

As always, we are deeply grateful to our donors for funding our CAG education program. While this activity was not directly about giraffes, our Saving People Saving Snakes project fosters respect and appreciation for all species in nature which bolsters community support for protecting all wildlife, including giraffes.