By: Muhammad Azhari Lubis (Panda Mobile Volunteer)

In order to welcome World Rhino Day which fell on Tuesday (22/9), Panda Mobile was present to take an active role in providing environmental education and explaining WWF-Indonesia's efforts in conserving Javan Rhinos in Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK) to the community and children in Pandeglang, Banten.

Prior to the culmination of the event which took place at Pandeglang Square, the Panda Mobile team conducted a series of activities; one of which was a show case of the facilities on the six-wheeled truck at the Car Free Day event at Pandeglang Square on Sunday (20/9). Children and the people of Pandeglang, Banten, also had the opportunity to get to know this educational truck owned by WWF-Indonesia.

On Monday, Panda Mobile provided environmental education at the Pandeglang Local Government Office Hall to a number of elementary school students in grades 1,2,3, as well as junior high school students in grades 1 and 3. They were introduced to the Javan Rhino, whose population is now critically endangered, efforts to preserve and develop the Javan Rhino itself, and introduced the activities of Panda Mobile. Activities for elementary school children began with storytelling by Kak Ryan, coloring pictures of Javan Rhinos, creating 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) by making brooches from old newspapers and cardboard, and watching a movie about the Javan Rhino.

In the second session, Pandeglang Junior High School students had a discussion and movie review about the Javan Rhino and its habitat. They also did outdoor activities, such as observation of water and the surrounding environment, tangled hand games, and tree games. The students were very enthusiastic in participating in the series of activities carried out by the Panda Mobile team. Every time the volunteers asked questions, they eagerly answered them. Prizes in the form of small rhino dolls were also distributed to students who were agile in answering questions.

At the culmination of the event on Tuesday (22/9), Panda Mobile returned to Pandeglang Square to join a series of World Rhino Day (World Rhino Day) celebrations organized by the Pandeglang Regional Government and WWF-Indonesia in Ujung Kulon. The event was opened with a ceremony and morning gymnastics with a number of students from schools in Pandeglang, Banten. In this World Rhino Day event, Kaka and Teteh Pandeglang were also present to participate in campaigning for the preservation of Javan Rhinos in TNUK.

After the ceremony, the Panda Mobile team together with WWF-Indonesia Ujung Kulon office held a 3R training for Pandeglang students who previously participated in Panda Mobile activities. They were taught to recycle used t-shirts into bags, screen print bags with the Makiblon Community, and make batik for the Javan Rhino statue. Occasionally they were allowed to climb onto the Panda Mobile truck to read books and play while learning. The day's activities were designed to make the community and children more aware of the environment and the preservation of the Javan Rhino, which is the symbol of Pandeglang City, Banten. Because, "no rhino, no good!"