EAZA Madagascar Campaign 2007
Chessington have been awarded the "Arovako I Madagasikara" Bronze Award!
The Wild Factor at Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo supported the 2007 EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Madagascar Campaign. The Wild Factor inspired our guests to understand in more detail the natural behaviours of these exotic animals, leaving them with a greater appreciation for the threats these species face in the wild.
Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world just off the east coast of Africa. Its amazing diversity and varied landscape has led to the island being called the 8th Continent. On this huge island, plants and animals have developed in complete isolation, producing a collection of unique species such as Lemurs and Chameleons. Evolution ensured that these animals adapted and specialised until 2000 years ago when a new primate reached the island…Man.
As soon as Man arrived in Madagascar, wildlife started to decline and some large species soon became extinct. These were unfortunately the first casualties of what has now become a disastrous situation. Today not only are the animals and plants disappearing, but complete eco-systems too.
Due the growing human population on the island (16 million), what once used to be covered with natural savannah, mangrove forest and rainforest and swamp, has now disappeared. Large areas of these original habitats have gone and in their place sees pastures and agriculture. The soil on the island cannot handle this change and just gets washed away.
That’s why Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo supported the campaign to raise awareness and money to help the wildlife of Madagascar.
EAZA Madagascar Campaign 2007. Arovako i Madagascar. The sixth conservation campaign organised by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.
CWAF Campaign
The Cameroon Wildlife Aid Fund (CWAF) is a UK registered charity that cares for young gorillas and other primates orphaned by the bush-meat trade and highlights the problems of deforestation. Bush-meat is the name given to wildlife that is hunted by people for food. Each year up to 800 Western Low Life Gorillas are killed for their meat, this illegal hunting is the biggest threat to the Apes to the West & Central Africa. CWAF works with the government, local communities and many ecological groups worldwide to educate and explain the importance of living and working with animals.
CWAF operates the Mefou National Park a 1044 hectare reserve along with Mvog-Betsi zoo in Cameroon, through these sites CWAF demonstrates the diversity of wildlife in Africa and how it can be protected from further damage in the future.
Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo supports CWAF to carry out their essential operation to enforce Wildlife management schemes to improve the present situation in Africa. CWAF relies on fundraising for it's operating expenses. You can help by donating money to the special collection bucket in the ‘Trail of The Kings’ attraction in Chessington Zoo or visit www.cwaf.org to see how you can help.
