A contest on making short video clips about wildlife conservation was launched by Wildlife At Risk (WAR) and the Douc Langur Foundation (DLF), on April 22nd in Ho Chi Minh city.

Students painting fence at the Hon Me wildlife rescue station. (Photo: WAR)

In this contest, contestants have to create a short video clip that is no longer than three minutes, aimed at generating interest among the youth to take part in wildlife conservation. Any university student from Ho Chi Minh city or Hanoi is eligible to join the contest, which lasts from April 22nd to May 22nd. The winners of the contest will participated in the Wildlife Summer Camp 2015 organized by WAR and supported by DLF.

Wildlife Summer Camp 2015 aims to connect youth to wildlife conservation through helping them identify suitable jobs and to inspire them to take action to protect wildlife, both now and in the future. With the theme "Scattering of love", the camp will last for five days and four nights at WAR's Hon Me Wildlife Rescue Station.

A wide range of practical and interactive communication activities will be conducted in an exciting and creative manner, including daily rescue activities such as preparing food and feeding wildlife, cleaning and painting wildlife enclosures, growing plants to help feed rescued wildlife and forest trees to maintain the rescue station.

In addition, the campers will also learn different skills related to the profession such as photography, setting up camera traps, surveying the forest and other recreational activities.

For the first time, university students from Hanoi also have an opportunity to take part in the Wildlife Summer Camp 2015. It is expected that approximately five university students from Hanoi and 35 university students from Ho Chi Minh city, including some of WAR’s best volunteer students or winners of other WAR’s contests last year.

“The Wildlife Summer Camp is a truly meaningful experience. I took part in many practical activities and was passionate for the friendships with those we bonded with during the trip. I heard moving stories of rescued wildlife and experienced how carefully they were looked after by WAR’s staff. I committed myself to contributing more to wildlife conservation though asking people around to take part in wildlife protection. The wildlife was so unique and beautiful and I wish my children could also see them the way I saw them,” said Ms. Le Thi My Nhung, a student from the Agriculture and Forestry University and who participated in the Wildlife Summer Camp 2014.

“The successes of the two previous Wildlife Summer Camps inspired and encouraged us to continue organizing this coming, Wildlife Summer Camp 2015. This year's event, with participation of students from both Ho Chi Minh city and Hanoi, will include many lovely surprises for the campers. Currently, we are preparing carefully for the Camp, so that it not only meets the youth’s expectations but also contributes greatly to wildlife conservation," stressed Ms. Do Thi Thanh Huyen, WAR’s Wildlife Education Manager.

The Wildlife Summer Camp was first launched by WAR in June 2013 and has become an annual activity./.

( Compiled by VNF )