Education

Cikananga Wildlife-Environmental Education Program

Program summary
The wildlife trade of Indonesia is cause apprehension, for the demand of wild animals as pets, food, medicine and clothing. The animals especially primates  is abundant in the trade, both one receiving no national protection and a low level of international trade regulation (CITES II), and one receiving the highest level of national protection and a high level of international trade regulation (CITES I). Though many studies have sought to estimate abundance of primates in trade, understand trade routes, and estimate species loss in the wild, few have attempted to mitigate trade at the source through environmental education (EE).

This EE program seeks to create an awareness of native species and the importance of conservation and welfare. The program will take place through behavioural observations and assessment of the participants during different tasks, including contextual drawings, nature walks, and animal observation. Also we have the program of planting in area of village and schools around Cikananga. The EE program is the first step to measure change in perceptions of local people towards animals imperilled by the Indonesian pet trade.

The aims of the program
The aim of this program is to increase if a gain of knowledge regarding animal conservation and welfare can change perceptions, attitudes and behaviour towards animals. School classes will be taught a selected subject of the physiology, ecology and behaviour of primates, particularly those found in Indonesia. If this program is a success it will be shown by an increase in animal conservation and welfare oriented behaviour by the local community and possibly reduce the amount of primates traded and kept as pets in that particular community. A success can mean the usage of the program in other parts of Indonesia, which is possible without major revision. This education program does not seek to stop the pet trade, but seeks to improve the knowledge and perception towards the animals and hopefully through education decrease the number of animals traded.

The education program will be implemented in cooperation with an NGO at the Cikananga Animal Rescue Center. The work of NGOs in Indonesia has been investigated, finding that EE by NGOs is very important in Indonesia, due to the lack of attention given to this subject by the government (Nomura et al.,2003).

This education program is to investigate if a gain of knowledge regarding animal welfare can change perceptions, attitudes and behavior towards animals. School classes will be taught a selected curriculum of the physiology, ecology and behavior of animals, particularly those found in Indonesia. If this program is a success it will be shown by an increase in animal welfare oriented behavior by the local community and possibly reduce the amount of primates traded and kept as pets in that particular community. A success can mean the usage of the program in other parts of Indonesia, which is possible without major revision. This education program does not seek to stop the pet trade, but seeks to improve the welfare of the traded species and hopefully through education decrease the number of animals traded.

Yayasan Cikananga melalui unit Wildlife Learning Center melakukan program edukasi dan pembelajaran tentang pengetahuan hidupan liar Indonesia. Program tersebut diperuntukan baik untuk umum maupun kalangan pelajar.

Program edukasi ini bertujuan:
•    Penyadaran dan pemahaman tentang arti penting pelestarian satwa liar
•    Pengetahuan dan penambahan nilai-nilai lingkungan yang dapat ditanamankan kepada masyarakat.
•    Menambah pengetahuan mengenai konsep-konsep pelestarian satwa liar dan tekhniknya dalam mengimplikasikannya  dimasyarakat.
•    Perubahan pola fikir tentang pentingnya pelestarian satwa liar dan dapat ditularkan kepada masyarakat.

Contact us
Email us : willemijn.eggen@hotmail.com (international) or cahyono.ppsc@gmail.com (Indonesian)