POLOKWANE – Gr 4 to 6 learners of Jabez Christian Academy were introduced to wildlife when they recently visited the Hoedspruit Reptile Centre and the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, accompanied by teachers Cathleen van Vuuren and Fiona Philips.
At the reptile centre, learners were given a demonstration on how to handle snakes when they came face to face with a boomslang, puff adder and a king cobra and they were educated on the do’s and don’ts when bitten. The centre is one of the oldest and most well-known reptile centres in Africa, having been in operation since 1984 and it has grown from humble beginnings into a hub of innovative learning. It is a well-respected conservation, training and education facility.
The next stop was at Moholoholo, where they saw various animals that needed care and they were introduced to various species of vultures and eagles as well as various cats.
The facility was established in 1991 and very soon, a variety of animals were being brought to the centre that were either orphaned, injured or poisoned and in need of help.
The plight of Africa’s animals and its natural system has always been the main concern at Moholoholo and the philosophy is that awareness must be spread if we are to save the country’s wildlife.
Van Vuuren and Philips were very excited about the excursion and said it afforded learners new insight into environmental conservation. “It may even open career opportunities for some,” Van Vuuren said.
According to Jabez Principal, Dr Elana Erasmus, the school’s curriculum in natural science teaches learners to be able to identify the systems, competition and symbiosis in nature.
“Of importance is the habitats and food webs, the balance and imbalance that have an impact on the ecosystem, the conservation, survival in unique habitats which live in our environment, what animals eat, what animals hunt, why animals compete, and how animals survive. This opportunity brought learners nearer to the real environment and has indeed added value, Erasmus said.
