An album of paintings of Li and Miao Ethnic Groups in the habitat of Hainan Gibbon

SHAO Yang FFI China Programme Project Manager

It is said that a good drawing has its own life once it is

express the traditional natural view of Li and Miao Minorities.

created. It can communicate with the readers by itself.

Through the pictures, we feel the changes in emotion

After 5 years, when I look one by one through the drawings,

of students on their understanding of nature and the

which were products of annual Gibbon Cup Drawing and

environment. The drawings Welcome Foreign Friends

Calligraphy Competition, they tell me the stories of the

to Visit Our School, Happy Winter Camp and Foundation

last five years.

is Acting record detailed environmental education activities of our conservation project. Even though local

All the pictures were inspired by the Hainan Gibbon Nomascus Hainanus), a species that FFI has been

schools have no art lessons, the student’s rich imagination and their ability to capture the colours and

working to conserve since 2005. At that time, we wished

feeling of nature and society have surprised not only FFI,

to encourage local students to observe nature and

but also the local people.

society around them, to think over the relationship between themselves and nature and through the drawing

This album is a collection of all competition entries since

and calligraphy competition.

the first Gibbon Cup competition in 2006. It bears witness to local students’ search for beauty and shows the local

In the beginning, Gibbons were depicted with a long tail,

natural and social environment and also records the

now we can see students’ increased interest in and

process and achievements of our Hainan Gibbon

feelings about nature and gibbons, reflected in their work.

environmental education project. It is only one of the

For example one picture shows the mournful eyes of

achievements of our conservation project. Though it

a Gibbon. In the past 5 years, the theme of the

couldn’t record all the changes aroused by the project, it

competition has been expanded. In the beginning, most

fully embodies the far-reaching influence on local students.

of the drawings expressed nature, now more and more

We hope readers can share the nature and beauty with us

drawings try to express the relationship between

and their hometown can be realized!

human beings and nature, and especially to explore and

Gibbons’ Future Son, ‘Dad, what’s this animal? I never saw it before.’

Dad, ‘This is the Hainan gibbon. It became extinct because of illegal hunting by human beings.’

Playing Together

Happy Winter Camp

FFI organized students to visit Bawangling NR as a winter camp. The students didn’t see any wild animals except some birds. They were very disappointed. This drawing describes the students’ beautiful wishes.

Playing with the Gibbons

Cleaning Our Camp with Gibbons

My Little Visitors

Gibbon

Little Egret

In Spring, little egrets are looking for food in paddy field. Glow of the setting sun gives beautiful pink to little egret’s white wing.

Harvest Season

Rescued from the Human’s Mouth

The Same Emotion

No Tree for Living

Help, Help

Please help Us Protect Our Hometown

Future Rescure Helicopter

Traveling in Space

Flying

Swimming in the Sea

Under the Sea

Miraculous Tree Planting Machine

Castles in the Air

Joys of Flying

Have a Good Swim

When the Tsunami Comes

In 2004, the tsunami from Indonesia caused a huge disaster. This drawing describes how humans will have to face tsunamis in the future.

When the Earthquake Comes

In 2008, the 8.1 earthquake hit Sichuan, China, resulting in a huge loss of property and life. This drawing describes how humans will face such a disaster in the future.

Flighting the Dragon

Dragon

Dragon

Dragon

Struggle with the Pestilence

Monsters Attacking the Village

Fighting the Monster

A monster visited the village, and hurt people.

There was a family with 5 sons, who were brave and skillful. They fought the monster and saved the lives of the local people.

Story about Emperor Cave

Date on the Magpie Bridge Niulang and Zhinv were a couple separated by the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother only allowed them to meet each other once a year. On July 7th , magpies made the bridge for them.

Celestial Being

Driving Away the Ghosts

Worshiping Ancestors

Li Minority’s Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional festival for Chinese. Li people made the tzung tzu and glutinous rice cake on this special day.

Li Minorities Celebrating the Moon Festival Moon Festival is a very important traditional festival for Li people. Under the moon, villagers celebrate the festival together.

March the Third

March 3rd is a very traditional and important festival for some minorities in the south of China.

Li minorities usually celebrate this festival by singing and dancing.

Pestle Glutinous Rice Cake

Li Minority’s Pig Killing Day

In remote areas, local people always live self-sufficiently. Killing pigs and buffalos is a public affair. Villagers work together, and share the meat together.

Li Tapestry Weaving

Li tapestry weaving is a traditional handicraft of the Li minority. The whole process including weaving, dyeing, tailoring and embroidery embodies the tradition and wisdom of Li.

Li Minority’s Moon Festival

Worshiping Ancestors during the Moon Festival

Li Minority’s Dragon Boat Festival

During the Moon Festival, families cook many dishes for their ancestors.

Bamboo Trap Dancing Bamboo trap dancing is a very traditional and popular way of entertainment to some minorities in the south of China

Pestle Glutinous Rice Cake

Li Girl Making Herself Up

Gathering in the Rice

The Bull Fight

Harvest Season

Harvest Season

Dried Ferns

Collecting Traditional Herbs

Local people use drying ferns to make brooms.

Alpinia blepharocalyx is a kind of traditional herb, and also an income resource for local people.

The World in the Eye

Going to the Farm Land

Feeding Pigs

Collecting Fruit

My Family’s Mud and Straw Hut

This drawing shows JI Tianyou’s house.

My Home

Building Mud and Straw Huts

The Li mud and straw hut is a traditional local building. The mud wall and straw roof make the house cool inside even in the hot season. But this traditional way of building may soon disappear.

Li Minority Village

Houses Next to River

Dusk

Rainning

Rainbow

The Morning of Mountain Village

Happy Garden Party for the Children’s Day

Game in the Pool

After Class

After Class

Welcome to Our School

In 2005, FFI organized an environmental education expert and a UK volunteer to carry out EE activities in schools around the NR. It gave a strong impression to local students.

Going to the Nature

Tug-of-war Match

Good Friends

Family Camping by Bike

Visiting the Nature Reserve

Foundation is Acting

Students established the Wildlife Rescue Group to help wounded wild animals. Wildlife Rescue Foundation was founded to support the rescue group, such as medicine and reference books. The students collected rubbish to raise funds.

Commemoration Meeting for 5.12 Earthquake

May 12th is a memorial day for Sichuan earthquake.

Students expressed their grief to those, who lost their lives.

Donation for 5.12 Earthquake

In 2008, 8.1 earthquake hit Sichuan, China, which resulted in a huge loss of property and life. Many people, including students, gave donations for the reconstruction in Sichuan.

FFI’S WORK ON HAINAN GIBBON CONSERVATION

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Editor: Fuyu is a Li minority primary school teacher, who has been teaching in

Editor: Teacher Fuyu, do you think that the

Qingsong Center School for more than 10 years. Though his major is art, he

‘Gibbon Cup Drawing and Calligraphy Competition’

always teaches Chinese and mathematics in school, because of the lack of

is an effective approach to improve local students’

teachers. Fuyu took the charge of the annual ‘Gibbon Cup Drawing and

conservation awareness?

Calligraphy Competition , and has also been coaching students to draw after class since 2005. He became the main partner and advocate of FFI’s Hainan

Fuyu: FFI has supported Qingsong Township

Gibbon environmental education project in 2008. With his guidance, local

schools to hold the competition for 4 years. It has

students set up a Wildlife Rescue Team and foundation spontaneously to help

not only enriched our cultural life in school but also

wounded wild animals such as birds. He also guided students to collect and

educated many local people, especially students

arrange local traditional stories and customs, which are related to the

and their parents. Many parents have been

relationship between humans and nature. Students presented all these in schools

influenced by their children, and joined our

and villages recently.

conservation team. I am aware that there are more than ten families are very eager to join our conservation activities. Frankly speaking, I have

Editor's note

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sometimes considered giving up, but when I look

students and spent a good time. All these recorded

is a long time. But it is very short to Li and Miao

at students’ drawings, I feel very happy and

my existence. The challenge is that I feel lonely,

minorities, who have been lived here for thousands

satisfied to see how their drawings get better and

as I fight a lone battle. Recently, I learned from

of years. 5 years is not enough to change their

better, so I continue to do this.

Liu Wenhua, who is an environmental education

traditional slash and burn customs. A traditional

expert that it’s because of my personality. I am

Chinese saying is that, it takes ten years to grow

not good at communication.

trees but a hundred years to educate. Our

Editor: Besides the competition, I know that you

environmental education has just started, and it is

also guide the students to do a lot of conservation activities such as rescuing wounded birds and

Editor: FFI has worked on gibbon conservation

impossible to achieve huge achievements within

setting up a foundation. What do you think has

in Qingsong for more than 5 years. Do you think

so short a time. Our work is still at the exploring

been the biggest achievement and challenge to

the project has had any influence on local people

stage, we have already achieved a lot. All students

you during the activities?

and the environment? If there is influence, what’s

and teachers in Qingsong have received

the change?

conservation education, and many parents supported our conservation activities especially

Fuyu: During the past 5 years, the biggest achievement for me is that I grew up with the

Fuyu: To an outside organization, 5 years maybe

students in my class.

Editors: SHAO Yang KANG Dahu FU Yu Designed by: XU Yongsong Photos: PANG yanzhuo

FFI (86)-10-62658110 office@ffichina.org www.ffichina.org www.fauna-flora.org Fauna & Flora International China Programme Beijing Office 2-57 Xinxiang, Institute of Zoology,C-302, Chinese Academy of Science(CAS) Datun Road, Chaoyang Qu, Beijing 100101,China Tel: (86)-10-6265-8110 E-mail: office@ffichina.org Website: www.ffichina.org & www.fauna-flora.org