Giant Otter Pen Pal Programme

In 2002, an exciting educational partnership programme was initiated as a result of the work of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Philadelphia Zoo, Iwokrama, and Proprietary Media Inc. The initial programme involved electronically linking students from Gateway School in New York to wildlife clubs in the Rupununi Wetlands to talk about conserving Giant Otters.

This initial contact has expanded into an extraordinary linkage where pen-pal relationships have been established through a new satellite-based Internet connection in central Guyana. The connection allows kids from both cultures to understand each other's perspectives and learn about the complex realities of conservation. The Gateway School children have also participated in fundraising efforts with the Philadelphia Zoo for the conservation of Giant Otters in Guyana. Here, Iwokrama and the North Rupununi District Development Board are working together to develop conservation and monitoring programmes for the species.

To date, the Philadelphia and Jacksonville Zoos have funded this work, which is now being integrated into a Wetlands Monitoring programme supported by the Darwin Initiative from the UK.

There is now a third generation of pen pal connections in place and the children of Gateway School recently developed and published a web site, World of the Giant Otter. The site won first prize against 96 other entries in a New York City-wide competition operated by the non-profit group ThinkQuest New York City. Meanwhile the kids from the North Rupununi recently completed a very successful annual Wildlife Festival that this year attracted the attendance of the Minister of Tourism. Stay tuned as these children working together will continue to dazzle you with their excitement, brilliance and problem-solving skills.