PAC & Schlumberger Guyana launch enhancement Project at Zoological Park

The Protected Areas Commission (PAC) announced the launch of a significant enhancement project at the Guyana Zoological Park on Friday, in collaboration with Schlumberger Guyana. This initiative aims to establish a rehabilitated enclosure for various animal species, enhancing the zoo’s facilities and providing a more comfortable living environment for its inhabitants.PAC Commissioner Jason Fraser highlighted the critical role of public-private partnerships in creating safe and secure urban spaces. He emphasized that such collaborations are essential for the ongoing improvement of community facilities.Omadele “Dee” George, PAC Board Member and President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, also spoke at the event, noting that the project coincides with World Tourism Day 2024. George underscored the importance of biodiversity protection for Guyana’s tourism sector, which is a vital contributor to the nation’s economic development. She stated, “Guyana’s rich biodiversity is something we proudly showcase to the world, and it is crucial that we continue to sustain it.”Sharlene Seegoolam, Managing Director of SLB for Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Caribbean, reaffirmed SLB’s commitment to preserving and rehabilitating local green spaces. She highlighted that this project builds on a similar enhancement activity conducted by SLB in 2023, where volunteers planted trees, painted structures, whitewashed palm trees, and provided garbage bins to support waste management.The newly established enclosure will house some of the Zoological Park’s most treasured and vulnerable species, including the Red-Footed and Yellow-Footed Tortoises, as well as the majestic Jabiru Stork. Seegoolam remarked, “These species symbolize the biodiversity we strive to protect. They are integral to the broader ecosystem that we are committed to preserving for both current and future generations.”Additionally, she noted that the initiative seeks to advance a national movement for environmental preservation and scientific research. “Beyond the aesthetics and the refurbished enclosure, this initiative is about something much larger: safeguarding biodiversity. The rehabilitation efforts at this zoo are part of a broader transformation, aimed at turning this facility into a research and conservation center,” Seegoolam explained.Earlier this year, the PAC initiated a similar restoration and enhancement journey for the Zoological Park, part of its ongoing campaign to improve urban spaces and promote sustainable environmental practices.