Reef book officially launched on thursday january 10

‘Our Coral Reef’,the fourth book in the series about the natural world of the Leeward Islands, published by the ‘Dierenbescherming’ was officially launched on Thursday January 10 at the Cultural Center Curaçao. This book is the fourth and final volume of the series on nature published by Stichting Dierenbescherming and aims to contribute to people’s awareness that the coral reefs in the Netherlands Antilles form a treasure of immeasurable value, which needs to be preserved.
Unfortunately the beautiful underwater world is threatened in its very existence due to environmental causes such as pollution and the global rise in seawater temperature. Humankind unfortunately also forms a severe threat to the reef as few of the rapidly increasing numbers of divers realize that just by touching a coral, or whirling up sand with flipper movement, can kill off entire colonies. More information on this matter can be found in the Reef Book, written by Dr. Bart de Boer and with magnificent photos by Gordon Cox. The book comprises 168 pages with text in Papiamento, Dutch and English and is available to the public at the Animal shelter, in bookstores and souvenir shops.
The book was officially inaugurated by Minister of Education, Culture, Public Health and Social Developmen,t Omayra Leeflang, assisted by Paul Hoetjes coordinator of the KNAP fund. This fund kindly granted a subsidy for the project. During the proceedings, seawater from the Caribbean was poured from a Queen Conch onto the book, symbolizing the unique habitat of the Coral Reef where, as Bart states in the Preface of his book, “corals, sea fans, sponges and fish are abundantly present in all colors of the rainbow and in an amazing variety of shapes and forms.”

Inauguration of ‘Our Coral Reef’. From left to right: coordinator of the project Ineke Cijntje, President of Dierenbescherming Olav de Haseth; Minister Omayra Leeflang, author Bart de Boer, Coordinator KNAP fonds Paul Hoetjes, photographer Gordon Cox. Photo: Edsel Sambo (Amigoe.)

Our Coral Reef’ soon available to the public at the Animal shelter, bookstores and souvenir shops.

The four volumes in the series of books on nature of the Dutch Leeward  islands, published by Stichting Dierenbescherming.

Minister Omayra Leeflang happily displays her book.

Invited guests offer their books to Bart de Boer and Gordon Cox for autograph.

Following: three of Gordy Cox’s photos as a foretaste of what’s in store for us…….

Iridescent blue sponge

Christmas tree worm

Longfin squirrel fish

NOS PARANAN / ONZE VOGELS / OUR BIRDS
In this book author Dr. Bart A. de Boer describes 50 of the most common local birds to be found on Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba. The texts are written in three languages: Papiamento, Dutch and English and each description features a beautiful color photo.

In June 2006 the fourth revised edition of this book arrived from Holland.
Nine new photos from different sources feature in this edition and among them a beautiful photo of a “Yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot”, contributed by Sam Williams from Bonaire, and a beautiful head shot of a Caracara by Rob Riemer who temporarily stayed in Curaçao and left his photos for publication.
Ineke Cijntje, Boardmember in charge of PR, Information and Education, also contributed with a photo of a Bare-eyed pigeon which was taken at her home, where these pigeons come to snatch some food from the dogs’ dishes at feeding time.
The books will soon be available in the bookstores and at the Animal Shelter.

Photo: Sam Williams

Photo: Rob Riemer

Photo: Ineke Cijntje

Nos Mata i Palunan / Onze Planten en Bomen / Our Plants and Trees
Dr. Bart A. de Boer gives descriptions of 62 local plants and trees, enhanced by 91 color photos. The first edition of this book is already sold out and the second revised edition arrived in July 2004. This book is as popular as the book about birds and book stores and nature parks regularly place their orders.

Nos Bestianan / Onze Dieren / Our animals
(1st edition)
Local wildlife of Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba is the topic of this book. 48 color photos and text in the three main languages of our islands give an idea of our local fauna.
Author: Dr. Bart A. de Boer

Books are available at a surprisingly low price from the Animal Shelter in Curaçao and Aruba and in local book- and souvenir stores on all the three islands.
Schools can order these books for teaching purposes directly at the Stichting Dierenbescherming Curaçao at a reduced price. Tel. 737-1707.

Posters of country- and water birds
Two beautiful posters, one about the birds that live on the waterfront and another one about birds that live in the country were portrayed in their natural surroundings by Dick Poppe. Available at Mensing’s Caminada.

Country bird Place mat
The design of the country bird poster was used to make an attractive place mat, a beautiful souvenir of our islands’ nature. The place mat is admitted at the collection of place mats of Curaçao scenes distributed by Caribbean Handcraft and also available at the Animal Shelter, in book and souvenir stores and even in the supermarkets.

Animal Sticker
As a token of appreciation, especially for youngsters who have proven their love for animals by helping out at the shelter or in a project, a beautiful sticker was printed with the slogan: “Ami tambe ta amigu di nos bestianan” which means: “I also am a friend of our animals”.

Reef poster
In May 2004 our latest nature project, the Reef Poster, was submitted to the Environment Department of the Ministry of Public Health & Social development with a request for financial subsidy. This department manages the "KNAP Fonds", a fund that seeks and provides finance for small nature projects.
In July this project was approved and entirely financed by KNAP Fonds, and by request from that organization the project was even extended to provide schools throughout the Netherlands Antilles with posters to mark Animals' Day on October 4th.
KLM, Royal Dutch Airlines, partly financed the fare to Curacao of Dick Poppe, the Reef Poster's designer, when he came to take photos and make sketches of the reef inhabitants. Honorary Board Member of Dierenbescherming, Mrs Hanny Kooijman contributed too, by kindly putting an apartment and car at the disposal of Mr Poppe during his stay on the island.
As a token of appreciation the logos of these sponsors appear on the Reef Poster.

Our grateful thanks to the administrators of the KNAP Fonds, KLM and Mrs. Hanny Kooijman!

Update:
In October 2004 all schools for Elementary Education in Curaçao received posters for the classrooms and a coloring sheet for the pupils. Posters also were sent to the other islands of the Netherlands Antilles. The Curaçao schools for Advanced Education received their posters in March of this year. The Reefposter will soon be available at the Animal Shelter and in book stores.

Videos in Papiamento
“Bestia ta nos amigu, trata nan bon” which means: “Animals are our friends, take good care of them!” a 30 minute video which educates the young on how to take care of their pets.

“Bestia di mondi no ta bestia di kas!” (Wild animals do not make proper pets). This 22 minute video aims to create awareness of the importance of nature preservation and shows in a persuasive way why people must not take animals from the wild to keep as pets.

“Bida di Bestia tin Balor” (An animal’s life has value!) dramatically reports on the miserable and tragic circumstances of abandoned, neglected and abused animals on our island. This video is one of the informational aspects of the OPSC (Operation Pet and Stray Control) project and aims to make people aware of the current situation and provides information on how to care properly for pets.
For more info about the OPSC project, see “Current Activities”

For information about these videos please call 737-1707