View wildlife up close and personal
By NEENA ATEERAH MOHD NOR AND NABIIHAH RHAIHANA ABDULLAH | streets@nstp.com.my 0 comments
MALACCA: DO you know that a baby sea lion can recognise its mother’s distinctive calls amid a multitude of other sea lions? Or that the boa actually gives birth instead of laying eggs?
Rio performing for the audience at a bird show
These facts might not be known to many but, at the Kinderzoo programme, children and adults alike have the opportunity to be enlightened on the rare and unique world of sea lions, reptiles and birds at Wildlife Theatre Melaka.
Kinderzoo, which caters to children from as young as preschool age up to secondary level, is aimed at creating an educational wildlife programme outside the classroom, to impart knowledge and to encourage interaction with the animals as environmental and wildlife conservation takes on a more important role in our modern world.
Its manager and curator Azman Ghazali has 17 years’ experience of working with animals. He said the Kinderzoo provides a unique curriculum pertaining to the conservation of the environment and wildlife.
“We are not running a zoo. Our focus is on small groups of people because we want to give the real learning process like what the children have in their school. We believe that by dividing the children into several groups, they can absorb the knowledge more easily,” he said.
The children will usually be divided into three groups, as there are three dedicated classes on birds, sea lions and reptiles.
“The trainers would also teach the children on how to treat animals well. We want to educate these young people to be more responsible for the fauna as we are concerned about the animals’ extinction,” he said.
Located at the manmade island of Pulau Melaka, the Wildlife Theatre Melaka is home to three lovable sea lions, colourful birds, captivating reptiles and a mysterious tribe from the tropical rainforest of Borneo.
Wildlife Theatre Melaka corporate communications executive Katherine Fam said besides the Kinderzoo, visitors would also be entertained in a show by the trio of sea lions — John, Mary and Ann — as well as the band of slithery reptiles and colourful exotic birds from all over the world.
During the 90-minute show, held at an amphitheatre that could accommodate up to 800 people, animal acts and antics would be showcased.
Guests would also be entertained by a native Borneo tribe with their exciting jungle rhythms while being taken on a cultural journey.
The Wildlife Theatre Melaka will be celebrating its first anniversary with a carnival on Nov 17, from 10.30am to 9pm.
“To mark our inaugural anniversary this year, we will be hosting a full-day carnival with exciting activities and spectacular performances. It will be packed with fun, educational activities and nutritious food for the whole family,” said Fam.
Among the activities lined up from morning to night are snake guessing game, traditional congkak game, naming the baby raccoons game and Borneo cultural dance. The programme will climax with a grand finale featuring fire-eating performances.
“We will be running four shows, at 10.30am, 3pm, 5pm and 7.30pm. And as a show of appreciation, our tickets will be sold on a Buy 1, Free 1 basis,” said Fam.
“Except for the 5pm performance, the tickets for the shows will be priced at RM20 for adults and RM15 for children and senior citizens. The tickets for the 5pm show will be RM25 for adults and RM20 for children and senior citizens, as there will also be a magic show.
“On the day of the carnival, visitors can also be part of our history by participating in the naming of baby raccoons. We currently have a pair of two-month-old raccoons from Procyon Lotor species originating from North America, and they do not have a name yet, so there will be a contest to select the most suitable name for the babies.”
Pulau Melaka is about half a kilometre off the coast of Taman Melaka Raya, and merely five minutes’ drive from A’Famosa and Jonker Walk.
For details, visit www.wildlifetheatre.com.my or Wildlife Theatre Melaka’s Facebook page.