Rosie Mitchell
Over 150 school children from 10 schools took part in the Mukuvisi Woodlands Wild Dog Day last Friday, which served to highlight the endangered status of these wonderful carnivores, and to expand the knowledge of both children and adults about this species. In the evening, 150 adults attended the fund-raiser for the Mukuvisi Woodlands — always cash-strapped as environmental organisations tend to be — which again, focussed on the Africa Wild Dog and included illustrated talks by African Wild Dog experts Dr Rosemary Groom and Kim Wolhuter, a film by the latter, a four course supper with complimentary wine and juices, and a “Walk on the Wild Side” in which those who wished to, went on guided walks through the game park by the light of the moon.
So attractive a proposition was this, that three separate groups were taken out, and giraffe, wildebeest, bush baby, bush pig, spotted eagle-owl, guinea fowl, impala and zebra were seen by some groups. The event included an excellent art exhibition of works depicting the African Wild Dog, several of which were sold, with a percentage going to the Woodlands.
All told, the Mukuvisi Wild Dog Day was a resounding success and received sponsorship and assistance from many generous quarters; artist Lin Barrie, Chishakwe, Rooney’s, Carswell Meats, Colcom, The Cheeseman, L’O de Vie Restaurant, Painted Wolf Wines by Harrison and Hughson, Crystal Candy, Wild Imaginings, Touchstone Computers and Dickinson and Henley.
The schools event, which was part of the comprehensive environmental and conservation education programme at the heart of Mukuvisi Woodlands’ mandate, involved teams of children from 10 schools visiting six ‘stations’ situated around the “Woodlands” near the headquarters, where they enjoyed interesting presentations about various aspects of the African Wild Dog by environment and forestry university students on attachment at the Woodlands from the Chinhoyi, Bindura and Africa Universities. Based on what they learnt, they were then ready to answer quiz questions about this carnivore in competitions at both junior and senior school level.
They also enjoyed a documentary about African Wild Dogs, and had a lot of outdoor fun while learning about this species. The event wrapped up with the quiz competition, and the winners were Maranatha Junior and Warren Park 1 High Schools.
Ten lucky children from each winning school, plus two children from each of the participating school, will in October go on an exciting weekend trip to Chishakwe Bush Camp in the lowveld, where they will get the chance to spot some African Wild Dogs for themselves.
