Not all heroes wear capes. For the endangered Sunda pangolin, one of the last surviving native mammals in Singapore, their heroes are 500 children aged 5 to 6 from ELFA and Kinderland Preschools.

On 27 August 2016 at Singapore Zoo, more than 1,500 children, parents, teachers and staff, pooled in their efforts and sold handmade crafts, home-baked cookies and conducted exciting games and activities at the ‘I Love Pangolins’ Carnival.

A whopping $12,800 was raised and donated to the Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund to help save the Sunda pangolin and other endangered native wildlife.

Children made handicrafts and sold them at the ‘I Love Pangolins’ Carnival.

Children made handicrafts and sold them at the ‘I Love Pangolins’ Carnival.

(Photos courtesy of Beanstalk Singapore, ECDA)

The community project is part of ECDA’s (Early Childhood Development Agency) ‘Start Small Dream Big’ initiative, which encourages young children to give back to society.

Supported by Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), the project was an exciting experiential learning journey for the children to broaden their knowledge about pangolins; it included a meet-and-greet session with Pangolina, a rescued female pangolin at the Singapore Zoo.

Our Pangolin Ambassadors shared with guests what they learned about conservation of pangolins.

Our Pangolin Ambassadors shared with guests what they learned about conservation of pangolins.

Ms Rekha Nair, Education Curator of WRS said, “We are very proud of the collaboration with Kinderland. Over 1000 children have become Little Pangolin Ambassadors under the ‘I Love Pangolins’ project, and they are no doubt bright sparks for the future of this critically endangered species and other native wildlife.”

Minister for Social and Family Development, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, who graced the event, was encouraged by the overwhelming response from Kinderland children, parents and teachers to the ‘Start Small, Dream Big’ initiative.

Minister for Social and Family Development, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, was encouraged to see the overwhelming response at the initiative.

Minister for Social and Family Development, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, was encouraged to see the overwhelming response at the initiative.

Our Little Pangolin Ambassadors at the Cheque Presentation Ceremony with Mr Seet Lee Kiang, General Manager of Kinderland Educare Services and Mr Mike Barclay, CEO of Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

Our Little Pangolin Ambassadors at the Cheque Presentation Ceremony with Mr Seet Lee Kiang, General Manager of Kinderland Educare Services and Mr Mike Barclay, CEO of Wildlife Reserves Singapore.