Once again this year, YAQU PACHA was represented with information booths at the Species Conservation Days held at the Duisburg Zoo, the Düsseldorf Aquazoo, and the Karlsruhe Zoo. Numerous visitors took the opportunity to learn firsthand about our work and the situation facing endangered aquatic mammals in South America and Mexico.
The focus was on our projects to protect La Plata dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei), Lahille’s bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus), Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis), manatees (Trichechus inunguis), and the critically endangered vaquita (Phocoena sinus). Many guests were surprised to learn just how severely these species are threatened by bycatch, habitat loss, and pollution—and how important international cooperation is for species conservation.
We were particularly pleased by the great interest shown by families and children, who asked questions at our booths, picked up informational materials, and enthusiastically chose our YAQU PACHA stuffed animals. With their purchases, visitors directly support our projects—and at the same time take a piece of species conservation home with them.
For us, the Species Conservation Days are a valuable platform for introducing people to our projects, raising awareness about endangered species, and demonstrating that species conservation can only succeed if we work together. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the teams at Duisburg Zoo, Aquazoo Düsseldorf, and Karlsruhe Zoo for the invitation and for the outstanding organization of these important events.
Many thanks also to the teams at the YAQU PACHA information booths:
Sandra Isenberg, Jolana Meister, Mike Meister, Silke Klein, Sandra Honigs, Petra Loettker, Andreas Banse, Jan Ritzler, Sandra Dollhäupl