Good for Chaz, good for the environment

Good for Chaz, good for the environment

Photographer Hedda Mittner

Pat Redford, founder of the Hermanus Baboon Action Group (HBAG), spent the rainy winter months during lockdown writing a story book about the baboons in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve (FNR) entitled Good for Chaz! As an awareness and educational tool that includes activities and colouring in pages, it turned out to be much more than just a story book.

The intention of Good for Chaz! was to encourage children to develop a fondness for the baboons, rather than being afraid of them, says Pat. “My hope was for children to learn, through the story, that there is a remarkable place for the baboons to live naturally – where they belong and are truly needed – and for both the children and the parents reading to them to develop an interest in, and a respect for FNR and its wildlife. In addition, I wanted to create a better understanding of the many risks associated with baboons in high-density suburbia and to promote awareness of the impact that poor refuse management has on wildlife.”

Click on the newspaper below to read more (see page 2)