Students explore and learn at Auckland Zoo
Posted on May 25, 2022
Last week the students and teachers from Macleans College 9ESL (English as a Second Language) class visited the Auckland Zoo as a follow-up to the reading of their class novel ‘Running Wild’ by Michael Morpurgo.
The novel is set in Indonesia and a large part of the story centres around the plight of orangutans.
The class participated in a zoo teacher led activity on global biodiversity issues which was very informative and also looked at ways that they could contribute to protecting the wildlife in New Zealand, especially the endangered species. The students not only shared their knowledge with the zoo teacher but learnt about the Auckland Zoo programmes in supporting wildlife in the zoo and the wider community of New Zealand.
The students had time to explore the zoo and there was much to see on their first visit. The class was very taken with the orangutans and especially the new baby Bumi. The experience was enhanced by the zoo volunteers who were on hand to answer questions and provide some close-up encounters.
The zoo has undergone a huge transformation and there is still ongoing work. The zoo staff explained to the students about the commitment to recycling with many of the enclosures made from recycled materials.
The students left the zoo with a wider knowledge and appreciation of their environment and the part everyone plays in the success of protecting wildlife in New Zealand and beyond.
