Guizhou teenagers get first science book about local wildlife
The first wildlife storybook - Xingda’s Wildlife Explorations in Fanjingshan catering to local students was launched in Guizhou.
‘Xingda’s Wildlife Explorations in Fanjingshan’
On 27 March 2015, the British Consulate General in Chongqing and the Guizhou Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve co-launched a new book called Xingda’s Wildlife Explorations in Fanjingshan at Guiyang’s No.1 Experimental Primary School. This is the first “science storybook” about wildlife in Guizhou for children aged from 9 to 15.
Entitled ‘Xingda’s Wildlife Explorations in Fanjingshan’, the book tells a story about Xingda, a wildlife conservationist, and his adventure through Guizhou Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve. It introduces local endangered species like the Guizhou Snub-nosed Monkey, Giant Salamander, Mandarin Duck, local butterflies and insects. By illustrating these species’ habits, behaviours and their habitat status, the book raises students’ awareness of wildlife conservation and introduces environmental protection initiatives in a fun and enjoyable way. It encourages children to take action to protect locally endangered species.
Xingda’s Wildlife Explorations in Fanjingshan is a key outcome of the Guizhou Wildlife Preservation Project which is co-funded by the British Consulate General in Chongqing and the Guizhou Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve Administration. The book was written by wildlife experts in China, Britain, America and Italy, including the Guizhou Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve Administration, Beijing Zoo, the Zoology Society of London, San Diego Zoo, and the University of Torino. The book garnered support from Dr. Jane Goodall, who is a British conservationist and well-known for her ongoing study of chimpanzees in East Africa. She kindly wrote an introduction to the book.
The book also gained the appreciation of HRH the Duke of Cambridge during his visit to China in early March 2015 and Guizhou Provincial Education Department and Guizhou Provincial Forestry Department. 5,000 copies of the book will be printed; these will be donated to primary schools in Guiyang city via ten district-level education bureaus and to schools around the Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve.
Martin Butler, the Bilateral Consul of the British Consulate General in Chongqing said:
The British government has long been supportive of environmental and wildlife conservation. The UK hosted the London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade in February 2014, and HRH the Duke of Cambridge visited Yunnan in Southwest China on 4 March 2015 to learn about China’s efforts to tackle the illegal wildlife trade and to boost wildlife conservation. We believe that ‘Xingda’s Wildlife Explorations in Fanjingshan’ is just the start of a joint UK-Guizhou effort on wildlife conservation. We hope that it will further inspire students to protect the environment that we share with wildlife.
Alongside local primary students, officials from Guizhou Provincial Education Department, Guizhou Provincial Forestry Department, and representatives from ten Guiyang district-level education bureaus attended the launch ceremony.