News | 11 March 2011
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Fun Learning in the Tropical Rain Forest
Fun Learning in the Tropical Rain Forest
Petungsewu Wildlife Education Center (P-WEC) has been working to increase the awareness of the public, especially the young generation, on the conservation of wildlife and the habitats, the tropical rain forests which are rich in biodiversity. In promoting forest conservation efforts to the youth, P-WEC working together with ProFauna Indonesia, holds regular program called "A Day in the Jungle".
The organisations believe by taking the students to the real jungle and giving experiential learning to them instead of the conventional teaching in class rooms, they are hoped to get to know more about forests and wildlife and eventually involved in the conservation efforts. In this program, P-WEC and ProFauna invite and take 100 of high school students in East Java to follow series of educational activities about forest and wildlife conservation in the nearest "jungle" or one of the remaining tropical rain forests in the Java Island, in Cangar Forest, situated between Mojokerto and Batu cities, East Java.
Cangar forest which is part of preserved forestry areas by the government called R Soerjo Grand Forest Park (locally abbreviated and known as Tahura R Soerjo), is the natural and main habitats of some endemic and endangered species: Javan langurs (Trachypithecus auratus) and the Javan hawk-eagle (Spizaetus bartelsi). The national park is 27,868.30 hectares and located between 1,000 and 3,339 meters above sea level. ProFauna latest survey in Cangar forest about the langurs or silver leaf-monkey shows that there were about 80 individuals belonged to 11 groups, while the total population of the Javan langurs in Tahura R Soerjo is still unknown.
In "A Day in the Jungle" last February 3rd 2011, students were enthusiastic and excited following the activities. It was the first time to go into the forest for most students. Dina, one of the participants expressed her amazement, "I am thrilled with this forest education program because it is fun to learn the biodiversity of forest and wildlife which are absolutely wonderful."
The participants were getting more excited when they saw several groups of Javan langurs who were busy playing in the woods near a waterfall.
"They are cute monkeys. It is the first time for me to see monkeys in the wild", said Chris, one of the participants.
After 4 hours in the forest, the participants then joined a discussion with the officials of Tahura R Soerjo and the Chairman of ProFauna Indonesia held in the meeting hall by the entrance of the forest park. The students were actively involved in it as they asked many questions to the speakers mostly about the conservation efforts to protect the forest park. They also suggested P-WEC and ProFauna to invite them again in the program because the experiential learning that the organisations held was really fun, adventurous, and informative.