GET ACTIVE!
This program spotlights youth-led conservation efforts featured on a trusted CBC Television series. It follows dedicated young people who learn, advocate, and take action to protect wildlife and wild places.
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
SPIDER MONKEYS. Joel, a young spider monkey rescued from a perilous start in Peru, now thrives in a sanctuary after being saved by a compassionate Canadian supporter. Spider monkeys are considered more primitive than Old World monkeys. They rely on mature rainforests, forests that are vanishing at a rapid pace. These intelligent primates face an uncertain future as they are hunted for meat and their body parts are traded illegally for medicines, and some parts even find their way into exotic jewelry. Joel’s rescue began a life of care, enrichment, and education at a sanctuary that protects rescued wildlife while highlighting rainforest conservation. Source: CBC Television.
SPEAKOUT!
James Brooks, a young conservation advocate, speaks about his fascination with apes and monkeys and the close connection between humans and these animals. He notes that watching them play is uplifting and motivates people to help because many species face decline. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the mining of coltan, a mineral used in cell phones and laptops, drives deforestation and endangers gorillas and bonobos as their habitats are cleared. He started 1000 Classrooms, asking one thousand classrooms to donate three dollars each. The funds support a Congo-based group that feeds hungry children and provides income to widows who protect gorillas and apes. The effort emphasizes spreading awareness, so more people learn and consider taking part. Young people can help by joining groups, fundraising, and sharing information with neighbors. People can email friends and educate them about the situation. Source: CBC Television.
B! FACTS
MOUNTAIN GORILLAS. Mountain gorillas are among the most endangered animals on the planet. Only a few hundred individuals remain, living in the highland forests of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda. The biggest threats come from human activity including habitat loss due to logging and land conversion and the capture of adults for zoos. The Silverback Gorilla leads the family group as the mature male. Gorillas are primarily herbivores and they only threaten humans when they feel cornered or threatened. Source: CBC Television.
BREAKOUTER!
Simon Jackson and the Spirit Bear Coalition. The white Kermode or spirit bear is a genetically distinct subspecies of the black bear found only on Canada’s west coast. Fewer than 400 individuals remain, and habitat loss continues to threaten its future. In 1995, Simon Jackson, at age 13, started a youth movement called the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition with Salimah Ebrahim. The effort has grown into a global network that engages millions of participants across dozens of countries, empowering young people to learn about the spirit bear and to take action to protect its habitat and ecosystems. Further information about breakout initiatives can be found in the program’s official materials. Source: CBC Television.