What is the Wildlife Violator Compact?
The Compact is an agreement that 10 states have signed to help each other
deter poaching. The agreement allows a state to revoke a violator’s
hunting or fishing license or other wildlife permit based on information
about violations in another member state. This means that a wildlife
lawbreaker cannot escape punishment just by crossing a state line. (A
survey of convicted commercial poachers revealed that their greatest fear
is loss of their hunting and fishing licenses.) The goal of the
International Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is that all 50
states become members of the Compact.
Wildfriends students from Garfield MS
translated the 3-page memorial into Spanish. The introduction reads como
asi:
Una memorial para solicitar que
un comite legislativo intermedio estudie el pacto de violadores de las
leyes de animales salvajes y que considere hacer una recomendacion de
que Nuevo Mexico se una al pacto.
[A memorial to request
that an interim legislative committee study the wildlife violator
compact and consider recommending that New Mexico join the Compact.]
(click
here for the full text of the Spanish version)
Crane
experts cheer WF performers at international conference
Two groups of Wild Friends performers stole the show at the Eighth North
American Crane Workshop held in January in Albuquerque. The Wild Friends
theatre troupe from Longfellow Elementary and the all-school Wild Friends
Dancers performed during the conference’s awards banquet. The play,
"Save the Cranes/Salven las Grullas," was an English/Spanish
production about the flight of whooping cranes to the Bosque del Apache
behind Kent Clegg’s ultralight. The dancers performed the ever-popular
graceful dance, "Journey of the Whooping Crane."
The following letter
written to WF director Carolyn Byers by US Fish and Wildlife Conference
Coordinator Jo Robbins sums it up.
"…I want to thank you
for providing us with such outstanding entertainment for the closing
banquet. The school children performing in the special whooping crane
play and beautiful crane dance were truly magnificent and their
wonderful performance will be remembered for many years by everyone in
the audience. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room that night and we
were all impressed and touched by their talent and enthusiasm, the
important message about wildlife, the excellent bilingual aspect of the
play, and the great impact and beauty of the dance. It’s not often we’re
given reason to ooh and aah, laugh and cry, applaud and cheer, and
experience the wonder of a child again, in just one short hour. The
night was also made special by the large crowd of families and friends
that came in to watch the performance. Such overwhelming support and
commitment surely contributed to the success of these works. And of
course, the teachers, instructors and volunteer helpers are the core
team making this fine production possible. We are indebted to each of
you for this night of excellence." Conference participants were
comprised of scientists and policymakers from Canada and Mexico as well
as the U.S.
In
February, both groups performed in the Rotunda to continue getting the
message out about the endangered crane, as well as to support the Wild
Friends’ efforts at the legislature. In addition, the dancers performed
their newest dance, "Gila Glitter," about the endangered Gila
trout. Many thanks to dance director Lorin Saint and drama directors Lori
Stuit and Naomi Julian for making it happen.
After the
session at Garfield
Hola from Nick LaRue and his
Garfield MS students! They are writing a bi-lingual article for the APS
Perspective about their memorable memorial experience. The APS Perspective
is the newsletter of Albuquerque Public Schools. They already have
experience after having translated the Wildlife Violator Compact memorial
into Spanish— three pages of technical language. Copies were distributed
to the entire Senate by Sen. Ben Altamirano. Bravo, Amigos Salvajes!
Garfield’s students are also competing in the duck stamp contest. It’s
an art contest to design the stamp that goes on hunting licenses. Game and
Fish gets hundreds of submissions every year. Student entries often are
exhibited at the New Mexico State Fair. As if that weren’t enough,
Garfield students have been building nesting boxes for birds. One of the
kestrels (the smallest of the falcons) has already “rented” a nestbox.
We always invite schools to let us know what’s hot and what’s not. If
you’d like to share with other Wild Friends news from your WF group,
call, fax, or e-mail Carolyn with your info.
Wild Friends to dance at Earth Day
Wild Friends always want to celebrate Earth Day. On
Sat., Apr. 22, the WF Dancers will perform “Journey of the Whooping
Crane” at 11 a.m. at the bandshell at the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque.
They will perform their new Gila trout dance at the Aquarium at 12:30.
They’re hoping for lots of Wild Friends wearing their t-shirts to come
support them. Bring the whooping crane petition and get more signatures.
Contact Carolyn at 505-277-5089 for blank forms if you need them. We now
have 4,300 signatures!
[In Case You Are Wondering: We are working with the
staff of senators Bingaman and Domenici to schedule a day, time and place
for Wild Friends students to present the whooping crane petitions to the
senators. Stay tuned.]
Run for the Zoo
The annual Run for the Zoo is May 7. Would any WF
teachers and students like to advertise Wild Friends by wearing their
turquoise t-shirts in the run or walk? If you register for the run with
your School Coordinator for $8 a student, you get in free to the zoo that
day, a Run for the Zoo t-shirt, and snacks. Here’s another opportunity
to get signatures on the petition. Deadline for registration at school is
March 27.
Wild Friends Around the USA
Efforts are starting pay off to
get Wild Friends started in other states. Teachers Tom Rendulich (formerly
the WF teacher at Polk MS) and Paula Wynn have started a group in
Philadelphia. Students are writing letters and speaking out about
stormwater runoff problems downstream. The kids are, according to Tom, “very
gung-ho.” Meanwhile, the Dade County Public School system is recruiting
teachers to start WF groups in the Miami area. Mimi Wolok, a Florida
wildlife attorney, wants to start another chapter of Wild Friends in
Collier County. Ruth Musgrave, director of the UNM Center for Wildlife
Law, has been recruited to help get WF started in Boston. She is also
working on starting a program in Olympia, Washington. We also hear the St.
Louis, Missouri school district wants to start a pilot WF program.
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