Written by: Beth Armstrong, Field Conservation Coordinator, Brevard Zoo
Brevard Zoo Conservation Fund Grant: Over $45,000

In early 2001 the Brevard Zoo received funding from an individual donor which allowed us to create the first environmental teaching suitcase which was sent to a group of Peruvian researchers, (ProDelphinus, see article on page 10). These researchers studied dolphin and sea turtle ecology but they were also conducting environmental education programs in small fishing towns along the Peruvian coast. Their suitcase contained hand and finger puppets, books, games, ZooBook magazines, laminated posters and maps, puzzles, binoculars and laminated field guides and a teacher’s information binder. Since 2001 Brevard Zoo has created over 30 suitcases for a variety of projects around the world including cheetah programs in Kenya and Namibia; gorilla and chimpanzee sanctuaries in eight African nations; a jaguar project in Mexico; a rhino project in Uganda and sea turtle programs right here in Brevard County.

Learn more by following these links: Project Updates, Videos, Photos, Maps, Links, FAQ, Documents

In 2006 and 2007 Suntree Rotary and the Stuart Florida Interact Club donated funds that allowed us to provide three suitcases to projects in Africa (rhino/Uganda; gorilla/Rwanda; chimpanzee/Uganda). Over the last few years, the Columbus Rotary Club and Ft. Hayes Interact Club in Columbus Ohio have co-sponsored nine suitcases for African ape sanctuaries. At our 2007 Safari Under The Stars fundraiser event we auctioned off sponsorship of suitcases which raised $2,000, allowing us to develop two additional suitcases (each suitcase costs approximately $1,000).

The intent of the suitcase is to make learning about the environment both fun and interactive for children as well as adults. In 2007 we completed suitcases for an animal rehabilitation and education program in Guatemala, a chimpanzee project through the Max Planck Institute in Ivory Coast, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International in Rwanda, the Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) in Rwanda and an additional one for ProDelphinus in Peru. Please see below for a Mexican colleague’s reaction upon receiving a suitcase recently. We would like to thank all of our supporters most especially the Rotary Clubs for believing in our commitment to environmental education.

“The Environmental Education suitcase has made it to Mexico!!! …
The puppets are amazing, and so is all the stuff that went into it. We have enough for many sessions in schools, over the next few years. I can tell you the kids will go crazy when they see them. We will send pictures as soon as we start using them.”
Many thanks again,
Juan Carlos G. Bravo
Representante para el Noroeste de México
Naturalia, Mexican Jaguar Project

Update: In 2009 we have received requests for 9 additional suitcases, 5 of which have been completed and sent to: an elephant study in Central African Republic; a mangrove education project in Guatemala; an education center on Florida's east coast; an elephant/orangutan project in Indonesia; and an animal rehabilitaion site in Mexico.