The new Wandering Bus has started to fulfil its mission

The wandering Bus in Messamena before officially starting its first journey. Not only is it decorated with pictures of gorillas, but also, for instance, bongos. Photo: Khalil Baalbaki, Prague Zoo.

“Some years ago, we were very surprised to find out that children living on the edge of the rainforest in Cameroon are only aware of gorillas as meat on a plate, not as fascinating living creatures,” said Miroslav Bobek, the director of Prague Zoo, who initiated the Wandering Bus project. “This first led us to distribute educational materials among them, and then we started to run the Wandering Bus. Its goal is to contribute to a reduction in poaching in the Dja Biosphere Reserve, and at the same time build awareness of nature conservation among children, their parents and teachers.”

The original Wandering Bus’s first journey was launched at the beginning of 2013 by footballer Karel Poborský. This was to make it easier for the project to gain the trust of the local population. The new Wandering Bus, which is now officially on its first journey, does not need such a patron. Both the children and their parents have shown an extraordinary interest in it, and it also has the support of most local authorities. Moreover, as Mvilongo Abena Désiré, the Sub-prefect of Messamena, mentioned in the opening ceremony on Wednesday, after completing this programme the children encouraged their parents not to eat poached animal meat.

“The new Wandering Bus is different from the previous one not only because, besides pictures of gorillas, it is decorated with other animal species protected by law, but above all because of the route it takes,” explains Jocelyn Ewane Aubey, the local project manager. “During the first journey in the new Wandering Bus, the children visited Kabilon, where they went on a nature trail through the rainforest and learned about common or important tree species and their significance. Then we presented them with a demonstration project for growing cocoa and other crops in a sustainable way and gave them advice and inspiration to try and plant something similar at home.”

On the next stage of the Wandering Bus’s journey, the children set off to see the gorillas at the Mefou Rescue Station, located near the capital Yaoundé. All the children were able to see the gorillas for the first time. They were prepared for this meeting thanks to lessons from their teachers, Jocelyn Ewane, and as well as by reading Gorilla Fairy Tales, a book from Prague Zoo. The next edition, funded by Movement on Own Feet - Centipede, will serve both Wandering Bus participants and many other Cameroonian children.

Other rides of the new Wandering Bus have been planed already for the next months, beginning in March, with the exception of the rainy season, when the local roads are not passable.