A Wild Animal Belongs in the Wild
Location:
Paramaribo
Theme: wild life preservation and research
Theme: wild life preservation and research
For more pictures and info check our youtubechannel:
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| Sloth |
Our roadtrip was in need of a passionate
inauguration, sanctioning our quest for Suriname’s new generation of green
growth visionaries. Monique Pool was highly recommended to us and turned
out to be a true blessing. As the chair of Suriname’s Green Heritage Fund
Suriname (GHFS), a local wildlife NGO, Monique’s passion for wildlife and
wildlife preservation is engaging. The commitment of the GHFS team is
undoubtedly genuine.
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| Monique Pool |
The Green Heritage Fund Suriname was
established by Monique with a clear vision; to create a society of people who
work towards the continued improvement of their environment, and the promotion
of a green, clean and healthy Suriname.
The GHFS believes that environmental protection can
only be successful if it engages the target groups of environmental protection
strategies in the conceptualization and development of these strategies.
GHFS funds activities educate and empower the
people of Suriname to make balanced decisions about the sustainable development
of Suriname’s natural resources and preservation of its biodiversity.
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| Monique with anteater |
The GHFS has 2 lead programmes; the
Xenarthra and Dolphin programme
The Xenarthra
programme
The Xenarthra is the order of animals that includes
the sloths (2 species), armadillos (9 species) and anteaters (3 species). They
live today only in the Americas. The name Xenarthra means "strange
joints", and was chosen because their vertebral joints have extra
articulations and are unlike those of any other mammal. The males have internal
testicles, which are placed between the bladder and the rectum. |
| Anteater |
The aim of GHFS is the preservation and protection of
the Xenarthra and their habitat in Suriname by means of shelter,
rehabilitation, education and information. Orphaned and distressed animals are
accommodated temporarily and released to the wild as soon as appropriate.
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| Sloth |
Similar to most activities of GHFS, this workstream
started by coincidence. In 2005 an abandoned baby sloth was
entrusted to Monique, igniting a curiosity for the Xenarthra. GHFS has
documented the life of this first “client” in a film named “I Love Loesje”. On
average the shelter receives one animal a week, and they are keen to
professionalize and expand their facilities.
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| The Shelter |
The different species are not well researched and GHFS
is only one of a handful of Xenarthra specialised research and shelter centre’s
in the America’s. We could have never imagined that the heart of Paramaribo
city harbored such a unique shelter for wildlife preservation, and an emerging
opportunity for community based eco-tourism. Currently the organisation is
looking for an eco-resort or village to host a larger scale Xenarthra shelter
centre.
The Profosu (Dolphin) programme
In 2005 a group of friends started to make regular
trips starting from Leonsberg into the estuary of the Suriname river, as it
flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Ending at the beach of Braamspunt, a wellknown
sand spit at the mouth of the River, and a stretch of river where the Profusu,
the Surinamese dolphin, can surely be found. This dolphin has a length between
130 and 190 meter and a maximum weight of 80 kg. |
| Discussing the Dolphin programme |
Over time these outings developed into a community
based research and monitoring activity. Under the guidance of the GHFS fund
ordinary citizens were trained to track and document the Profusu, while GHSF
consolidated the material for research purposes. The growing attention for the
Profusu and training of local residents laid the ground work for Suriname’s
growing dolphin tourism industry. Currently dolphin tourism yields USD
1,000,000 in direct and indirect income, also profiting local fishermen, small
restaurants and others at Leonsberg.
Although encouraged by the growing interest, Monique
also has many concerns. Crowds of tourists in throbbing motorboats hunting down
a single dolphin for entertainment is the quickest way to kill the entire
project. “Tour operators have to develop a long term vision, for dolphin
tourism to be sustainable, we have to respect the dolphins and their habitat
first. “
Monique explains the institutional model and
framework of GHFS:
·
Passion is one of our key
values as we work with long term volunteers who need to be pro-active and
creative.
·
Our
model is based on citizen’s
research, as we do realise that it is not a few thousands experts or
professionals worldwide who can preserve nature, it is something our
communities of ordinary citizens need to embrace. It is important to raise
awareness amongst ordinary citizens, but we also have to give them the right
tools. First we train our volunteers who come from all ranks of society to
conduct basic research. Secondly, our projects are community based. In the
dolphin project we work closely together with the boatsmen who transport
tourists.
· Loving
nature and working and living professionally is a philosophy that Monique embodies and implements throughout the
organisation.
·
Professionalism is unconditional.
We are a proper research centre, with experts in charge
who work with our volunteers in line with academic standards. This increases
our opportunity to really make a difference and create eco-tourism potential
for Suriname. A sign on the wall states “Do it today and not tomorrow”.
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| Monique and two of her volunteers, Chantal Landburg and Ari Vreedzaam |
GHFS would like to break the cycle of the
maltreatment of wild animals through domestication and vandalism in Suriname.
“They are not pets that can be trained and caged”.
Monique is also keen to transform the mindset of
Surinamese when it comes to nature and the forest. “Our colonial heritage
dictates that nature is something that has to be conquered and tamed”. Indeed,
real estate developers in Suriname, for example, prefer to cut down all the
vegetation, creating grid like infrastructure. Why not work with the
existing centuries old trees and creeks to create a more natural habitat?
Suriname can never harvest its full potential if it’s
citizens and government do not adopt a more eco-embracing approach to their lifestyle and
decision making process.
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| Sloths gaining strength |
We leave the shelter fully energized and
confident. We were looking for Surinamese who foster both nature preservation
and economic development, and walked the talk Suriname style....our first hunt
has already yielded results.
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