If there’s anything we learn other than baking and selecting the cheapest and fastest courier service for our online shopping habit in quarantine, it’s being reacquainted with nature around us.
That tree that has been framing the same view from your window outside suddenly attracts your attention. You now notice, which birds fly by or even hang by your yard.
But do you know what they are really?
This has long been the mission of The Ateneo Wild, a social media initiative that identifies in-campus insects, animals and plants—turns out there is a thriving ecosystem in the Quezon City university.
[READ: This Ateneo-based wildlife project finds exotic birds, reptiles, plants on campus]But beyond the university grounds, the initiative wants to foster a wider understanding of wildlife living among us in the urban space. Their latest project in partnership with the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability partnered with The Forest Foundation Philippines aims to do just that.
Through a set of alphabet flashcards, that anyone can just download and print for personal use, they want to reacquaint both young and old city dwellers to wildlife creatures, concepts and elements.
Illustrated by artist Inya De Vera, “The City Wild: Urban Biodiversity from A to Z” lists names of bird, plant, insect and animal species that can easily be spotted during our outdoor trips—even limited ones in quarantine.
While the colorful illustrations are geared toward educating kids, it can also serve as research material—or even a wallpaper—for adults who want to learn more about their urban cohabitants. It is especially helpful for parents and educators currently teaching young learners via remote or virtual approaches.
“We hope you have fun learning new words and knowing more about the wildlife around us through these colorful and educational cards,” said its organizers. “This is a collaborative effort to raise awareness for the protection and conservation of urban green spaces.”
Next time you go outside, even just in your own backyard, it might be handy to have this on your phone should you stumble upon an unfamiliar species. Otherwise, you could always print it—back to back with full illustrations or more information—and share it with a friend or a remote learner.
Check out the links below for the downloadable PDF file in your preferred format:
bit.ly/TheCityWildFullCards
bit.ly/TheCityWildAlphabet
bit.ly/TheCityWildDigital
Illustrations courtesy of The Ateneo Wild, Ateneo Institute of Sustainability and Inya De Vera
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