| Recommended Websites
School Visitors We are fortunate to have had the opportunity to work closely on several occasions with Caliche, a midlands based South American music group. Professional musicians, they also undertake workshops in schools with their extensive range of South American instruments. We highly recommend them. www.calichemusic.com We have also enjoyed working with Gary the Musical Clown, whose circus shows are great entertainment. Gary has now developed a new dimension 'Science of a Circus' for use in schools, using circus activities to demonstrate and explain forces. He has also developed some brilliant shows in partnership with another colleague, Suzy. We saw their Flash Bang & Wallop show at Aberdeen's Techfest and loved it! http://home.clara.net/garytheclown
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Exotic Pets
Something we are often asked about. If you are interested in keeping any exotic creatures as pets, we would recommend you buy captive-bred stock and ensure you are confident that you are able to provide a suitable environment. Some creatures require specialised equipment and they can live a long time! Also ask questions about the origin of the animals - are they captive bred or wild caught.
The Amateur Entomologists Society provides detailed information on keeping various exotic invertebrates, with links to other websites. They also have a good junior section - the Bug Club. www.amentsoc.org
The Entomological Livestock Group publishes fortnightly lists for members of sales, wants and exchanges. Lots of information and a great place for enthusiasts to source interesting and unusual, as well as more common, species. www.pwbelg.clara.net
Rainforest Organisations
There are plenty of them, here are just a selection ....
Rainforest Concern is a London based charity we know well and greatly respect. Working closely with local organisations, they are seeking to purchase threatened rainforest, for example in the Choco-Andean region of Ecuador - an area classified as a world biodiversity hotspot. You can help to purchase and protect an acre of rainforest for just £25. www.rainforest.org.uk
Conservation International - Find out where our planet's biodiversity hotspots are, look at some of the projects taking place around the world and find out how you can help. www.conservation.org
Fauna & Flora International - involved in projects throughout the world. www.fauna-flora.org
The Rainforest Foundation was set up in 1989 and seeks to protect the world's rainforests and the people who live in them. Originally set up to demarcate Kayapo land in Brazil, they now have projects throughout the world. www.rainforestfoundationuk.org
Rainforest Action Network - some positive ideas on how to help the planet's future, fact sheets, information and links. www.ran.org
Survival is a worldwide organisation supporting tribal peoples. It stands for their right to decide their own future and helps them protect their lives, lands and human rights. www.survival-international.org
Tribal People
Confeniae - The organisation of the indigenous people of the Ecuadorian Amazon. See for yourself what they think of the way their rainforest is being exploited. www.applicom.com/confeniae
Some of the stories of the indigenous people of the Ecuadorian rainforest are featured in the Ecuador Explorer website. You can read them at www.ecuadorexplorer.com/html/amazon_peoples.html
The US arm of the Rainforest Foundation is currently featuring the story of the Panara tribe of Brazil and is well worth reading. www.savetherest.org
Animals
BBC Wildlife - the BBC section of the website with the latest wildlife news from all around the world, web links and lots of interesting stuff. www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals
Not quite rainforest, but if you like webcams then take a look at the Africa webcam site, also with links to others around the world. www.africam.com
Orang utans - www.orangutan.org.uk
Gorillas - www.gorillafund.org
Chimpanzees - www.janegoodall.org
For all primates look at the International primate Protection League website at www.ippl-uk.org
Parrots - www.worldparrottrust.org
Issues
The Environmental Investigation Agency is an independent international organisation that investigates and exposes environmental crimes around the world. If you want to know more about the illegal trade in wildlife and other violations of the planet, then take a look, but be warned they can make grim reading. www.eia-international.org
Climate change is a huge issue globally, not just for rainforests. Take a look at the Climate Kaleidoscope site to find out more about climate change and why the rainforest is so important. http://climate.nms.ac.uk
For information on the latest environmental news in Ecuador, see the relevant web section of Tropic Ecological Adventures - an Ecuadorian travel agency specialising in responsible ecotourism in conjunction with local communities. www.tropiceco.com/html/news.html
The bushmeat trade is now acknowledged to be a serious threat to many primates. To find out more visit the website of the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force at www.bushmeat.org
The Centre for Alternative Technology in mid-Wales aims to promote the use of renewable sources of energy and a greener way of living. Learn more about these and test how green your own lifestyle is. www.cat.org.uk
Closer to Home
Wildlife Watch - for children in the UK who want to learn about the natural world (and develop some skills for future rainforest trips?), then visit this site to become a member, take part in some wildlife surveys and perhaps take part in your local group activities. www.wildlifewatch.org.uk
Contact us at: dave@rainforestroadshow.co.uk