ACRES WILDLIFE RESCUE CENTRE

PROJECT METHODS

Helping end the cruel illegal wildlife trade
“Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall all be saved.” - Dr. Jane Goodall

The educational aspect of the AWRC is undoubtedly one of its most important ones.

The natural setting of the AWRC will provide a positive learning environment and the AWRC will serve to create the much needed awareness on the illegal wildlife trade and general animal protection issues.

Ultimately, the educational aspect of the AWRC will move us one step closer towards ending the illegal wildlife trade in Singapore and creating a more compassionate society.

Education Centre
The Education Centre will feature:

Displays explaining the natural history of the animal species at the AWRC. This includes their basic biology, ecology and physiology.
Information about and photographs of prohibited animals commonly kept illegally as pets in Singapore.
Displays depicting the inhumane methods by which wild animals are smuggled.
Information about the legislation protecting wildlife in Singapore.
Information on ways to avoid contributing to the illegal wildlife trade whilst travelling, e.g. by avoiding buying souvenirs made from endangered species.
Information on leading a cruelty-free lifestyle.
Information on ways in which the public can make a difference for the animals.

In addition, informative talks and performances will be held at the education centre.

Educational signs
Educational signs will be placed in front of each animal enclosure with general information about the animals, including details of the biology and natural history of every species.

The individual stories of how each animal came to be at the AWRC will also be displayed.

Written educational materials
Written materials containing information on the illegal wildlife trade will be available for all visitors. This will include a guide to the wild animal species commonly illegally sold or kept as pets in Singapore, information on how to identify these species and contact details for the Acres Wildlife Crime Hotline. This will enable the public to take an active role in combating this illegal trade, by serving as extra eyes and ears and reporting any incidence of illegal wildlife trading or possession that they witness.

Written materials on a range of animal protection issues will also be available.

Special educational materials for students, written specifically for different age groups, will be distributed to all students on school visits. Educational packs will be supplied to teachers with ideas for follow-up activities in the classroom.

Guided tours for the public
Guided tours for the public will be offered at the AWRC. The tour will begin at the Education Centre where the public will view a video on the illegal wildlife trade and view the educational exhibits. The tour will proceed to the main enclosures where the public will be introduced to the animals. The reasons why the animals are at the AWRC will be explained and the detrimental effects of the illegal wildlife trade will be described. The tour will also include an introduction to the basic biology and ecology of Southeast Asian animals.

Educational programmes for schools
Acres will develop an education programme for schools which will include a visit to the AWRC.

Day visits
School visits will begin at the Education Centre where the students will be given time to view the exhibits with members of the Acres Education Team on hand. The students will then view a 30 minute skit by the Education Team about illegal wildlife trade. The skit aims to be entertaining and to capture the students’ attention whilst at the same time imparting important information. The skit will be interactive and students will be invited to participate. A short ‘Question and Answer’ session will be held halfway through the skit.

Following the skit, the students will be brought to the main enclosures where they will be introduced to the animals and their individual stories. Each student will be given a worksheet to complete with questions on the illegal wildlife trade and general animal welfare issues. The visit will end at the Education Centre where a ‘Question and Answer’ session will be held.

Overnight visits
Overnight visits will be made available to schools. During the day the programme will be similar to the day visit offered to schools but will also include an interactive workshop where the students can learn more about wild animals and the illegal wildlife trade through active discussions and practical and creative activities. Students will camp overnight at the camping area at the AWRC.

The next morning, the students will either take a bus or trek to the nearby Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve where they can learn more about nature conservation in Singapore. The visit will end at the Nature Reserve.

‘Animal Caregiver for a Day’ programme & ‘Vet for a Day’ programme
These programmes provide students and the general public with an opportunity to gain experience as an animal caregiver or vet at the AWRC for a day.

Participants will shadow the animal caregivers or vet at the AWRC and learn about various aspects of their work. For animal caregivers, this includes including cleaning the enclosures, preparing food for the animals and devising and providing various forms of environmental enrichment for the animals. For vets, this includes performing health checks on the animals, providing preventive veterinary care and various methods of darting animals (to be practiced on fake targets). The day will include an interactive wild animal husbandry workshop and participants will receive a certificate of participation and a T-shirt.

The ‘Vet for a Day’ programme will provide especially valuable experience for students wishing to pursue a career in veterinary medicine and a rare chance for them to learn about wild animal medicine in a hands-on and practical way.

Local flora
Native species of flora, fruits and vegetables grown organically will be planted throughout the AWRC. Visitors to the AWRC will be educated about the local flora during the tour of the centre.

Help us make a difference in the lives of the animals.

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