Kids have fun-filled day at Zoo

Giving back was all part of the fun for the Johannesburg Zoo, which is participating in the mayor’s 90-day Accelerated Service Delivery programme.
CHILDREN’S laughter and chattering could be heard from a distance at the Joburg Zoo, where 500 primary school learners spent a fun-filled day touring and learning about animals and plants.

Ferry ridesChildren enjoy a ferry rideRanging in age from Grade Two to Grade Seven, the children danced and sang along to educational songs about being water wise with the Rand Water mascot, Manzi, on 14 September.

The day was packed with activity as the learners also witnessed animal demonstrations and took a ferry ride to the lion enclosure. They also learned about different kinds of plants and played on colourful jumping castles.

City Parks had an educational stand, where the children could learn more about trees and greening. “City Parks as the greening agent is talking to the learners today about the importance of plants and greening, particularly because September is Arbor Month,” said Nicole Fergusson, the environmental education specialist at City Parks.

She said the utility put a lot of effort into raising awareness about the importance of trees. “We have been talking to children about the importance of plants in terms of absorbing carbon and giving us oxygen and the products that we get from trees.

“We teach them to use all their senses to appreciate plants and realise how important plants are in our environment.”

For many, the day was a day to rememberFor many, the zoo fun-day was a day to rememberNkhenso Makhuvele, a seven-year-old Grade Two learner at Norwood Primary, was delighted to see his favourite bird – the peacock. “Today I had a wonderful day because I danced and played with my friends on the grass. The last time I visited the zoo I was still in crèche,” he said.

Pamela Arase from Asteri Primary added: “I learned that we should not throw any junk in rivers and that we should not throw litter around the zoo because animals are going to get sick when they eat things like plastic.

“Today I saw hyenas, camels and zebras and they looked so wonderful.”

According to Candice Segal, the marketing assistant at the zoo, the day was part of a campaign to bring disadvantaged people to the zoo. It was launched in July, inspired by the call from Executive Mayor Parks Tau to give back to citizens and share a memorable day in one of Joburg’s favourite attractions.

The campaign is part of his 90-day Accelerated Service Delivery programme for Joburg’s entities. Since its launch on 18 July, more than 5 000 people had visited the zoo, Segal said.

It is sponsored by the zoo’s Masibambisane project which enables people from disadvantaged communities to visit the facility.