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| Photo :
Harry Andrews |
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| GCA visits St. George's
School for Orphans, Chennai |
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Laurel Converse (GCA Executive Officer) gives
a gharial presentation at St. George’s School
for Orphans in Chennai.
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Sept. 11, 2007
St. George’s School for Orphans’ 4th standard
class (age 8-9 yrs) had recently read Roald
Dahl’s book The Enormous Crocodile and studied
the Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus).
Laurel, who is based at the Madras Crocodile
Bank near Chennai, happened to be in the city
that week, and was asked to come talk to the
children about crocodiles. Already hooked on
crocs from their recent studies and a trip to
the Arignar Anna Zoo, the kids proved to be a
rapt young audience. They were thrilled to
answer Laurel’s questions about their knowledge
of Nile Crocodiles but sat in curious silence
when she projected a picture of a gharial on the
screen and asked if anyone knew what it was. As
Laurel explained about the unique gharial and
how much it needs our help the kids listened
intently and asked many questions. Eyes glued to
the projected pictures of this strange animal
they were very interested to learn of this
crocodile living almost exclusively in their own
country. Half an hour, many pictures, and many
questions later, when
Laurel asked the kids to tell her about the gharial, the
room was full of hands in the air. The kids
shouted excited answers about long snouts,
sharp thin teeth, funny |
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Photo : Laurel Converse |
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Photo : Laurel Converse |
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noses, eggs laid in the sand, and other
facts about these fish-eating crocodiles living
in India’s northern rivers. Their knowledge was
put down on paper in a drawing session held
afterwards. The result was a beautiful
collection of gharial artwork, showcased here.
It was a fun and educational evening for all
involved! |
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