Wildlife education (WEDU) is one of the program conducted annually by the Wildlife Study Group of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine UGM to provide insights and concerns for the public regarding the importance of wildlife education in Indonesia. This year, WEDU brought out a new theme, which is entitled as PATROL (Protecting Animal Through Rescue, Observation, and Learning) that was presented by speaker Fidelis Anjalika Marharani, S.Si.
The speaker explained about the general understanding of wildlife conservation, the urgency of wildlife conservation in Indonesia, efforts that have been and must be made by various parties to protect wildlife in Indonesia, discussing wildlife rescue, initial steps in the wildlife rescue process (identification, evacuation, rehabilitation, release), discussing challenges in the field and real stories of rescue, discussing Wildlife Observation, namely the general understanding of observation related to conservation, the importance of observation in research and conservation as well as basic techniques for ethical and safe wildlife observation and the use of technology that can be used to monitor the condition of wildlife in nature.
WEDU was held on May 31st 2025 at Darun Najah Orphanage, Maguwoharjo, Depok, Special Region of Yogyakarta. This activity was attended by 56 participants. After the material presented is finished, participants are allowed to conduct a Q&A session with the speaker. After that, participants take a post-test to examine their understanding of the material that has been given.
The next event was an educational games session where participants were divided into several small groups. The game session consisted of four posts: at the first post, “Tak Kenal Maka Tak Sayang”, participants were asked to do a crossword puzzle on previously explained material. At the second post, “Let’s Go Home”, participants were asked to organize a puzzle that consists of animal and it’s origin on a map through the given instructions. At the third post, “Which One? ” participants were asked to determine whether the statements are right or wrong by moving to the right if the statement is judged wrong and to the left if the statement is judged right. At the fourth post, “Connected,” participants were asked to make a paragraph of text based on cases provided and had to include causes, consequences, and solutions. After the game session ended, all participants returned to the education area. The activity was closed by giving awards to participants with the highest quiz scores, followed by giving impressions and messages and closing remarks.
This activity is expected to raise public awareness, especially among young people, about the importance of preserving the existence of wildlife in Indonesia. Thus, this activity contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in point 4 regarding quality education, point 15 regarding land ecosystems, and point 17 Partnership for the Goals.
Salam lestari!
Author : Rakyanistri Ulimahayu Kinayungan
Photo credit : Malya Cetta Parahita Danisworo
