Biodiversity day in Sóstó Zoo
Entertaining tasks, planting and interactive programs waited for adults and children in Sóstó Zoo on the occasion of the International Biodiversity Day.
The attention was driven to the variety of living creatures (biodiversity) and the risks threatening it because biodiversity – the variety of species – is in danger. Everybody heard already about the threats to tropical rain forests or coral reefs but this day the main emphasis was put on to get acquainted with the living world surrounding us. Native plant and animal species of Europe are also seriously endangered due to urbanisation and increasing intensity of agriculture.
The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria initiates awareness raising and fund collection campaigns in the field of nature conservation since 2000.
This year, Sóstó Zoo joins the 2 year long “Let it grow” campaign and therefore its educational activity is focused on animals and plants living in people’s direct vicinity. In the frame of it, visitors could get to know the secrets of native plant and animal kingdom and could get a view of the hidden life of reptiles and amphibians of Hungary and secrets of the birds living next to us.
The techniques of basket and cornhusk doll making could be studied and the meaning of wasp garage was explained.
On this special day, the work of the instructors was helped by the local branch office of the Hungarian Bird and Nature Conservation Association, the Amphibian and Reptile Protection Department, Nyíregyháza Forestry of Nyírerdő Zrt. and the ethnographic Kiss family.
Planting was part of the program and the plants could be taken home while tree species of the Hungarian forests were shown for the people interested.
The bird of the year, the landrail was presented and tree of the year which is Field Elm in 2016 has been planted at the educational trail of the zoo by the children and the foresters together just as it is done every year.
