Arts for Animals On August 12th we had the pleasure of having artists Annie London and Jim Hart from Arts for Animals, an NGO based in Africa, come and teach fourteen local students from six secondary schools, two Government Primary Schools, and the University of the South Pacific about how to draw endangered species. The day was full of enthusiasm and energy and we hope to incorporate some of the students artwork in our projects in the future! After the completion of the workshop, four students, one staff member, and one volunteer were awarded by Arts for Animals a whale swim expedition with Beluga Diving, where they swam with three pods of whales!
Invasive Species Our invasive species removal projects are well underway! We are on month seven of rat eradication from Mt. Talau and have begun counts and the removal of Crown of Thorns from coastal waters. Invasive species pose threats to the livelihood of many native species and contribute to a decrease of biodiversity. These projects require continual monitoring and effort from our dedicated team and volunteers to keep Vava'u thriving. After a week at the Pacific Invasive Learning Network in Samoa, there is much enthusiasm surrounding future projects to eradicate more invasive species such as feral cats, rats, feral pigs, and ants!
TONGA TIDBITS • It is currently turtle nesting season, making all hunting,
trapping, and catching of both male and female turtles illegal • Whale season is upon us! Until the end of October,
humpback whales frequent the calm waters of Vava'u. Make sure to keep undesignated vessels at least 300m away and remember that unauthorized swimming with the whales is prohibited! • Burning rubbish causes damage to all surrounding
environment, affecting land, air, and water. Help keep Vava'u clean by disposing of all waste properly • A new safety rail has been installed on the stairs to the
top of Mt. Talau thanks to the Ministry of Tourism and New Zealand High Commission to improve an important cultural and biodiversity site! www.vavauenvironment.org phone:844 1747
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/vavauenviro