City zoo teaching Scottish wildlife in Falklands

Published on Monday 12 January 2009 09:12

EDUCATION officers from Edinburgh Zoo have headed to the Falkland Islands to teach local children about Scottish wildlife.

Sandie Robb and Polly Phillpot are set to spend a month on the islands, visiting five schools and various youth groups as part of a School Linking Programme which aims to set up Scottish schools with links to classrooms around the world.

Their lessons will allow pupils to discover the habitat, history, conservation issues and wildlife of Scotland.

Lessons about the Falkland Islands, home to colonies of King, Gentoo, Rockhopper, Magellanic and Macaroni Penguins, have also been planned for Scottish pupils in 56 schools across the country.

These will culminate in a School Linking Day at Edinburgh Zoo in June, where the Scottish pupils will be able to speak to Falklands pupils via webcam.

Ms Phillpot, senior education officer for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which owns Edinburgh Zoo, said: "Sandie and I are very excited about the chance to travel to the Falklands and engage with young Falklanders and their native wildlife.

"RZSS has had links with Falklands Conservation for many years due to our collection of penguins at Edinburgh Zoo, so it will be a great moment when we see our first penguins in the wild."