Kids taught not to pollute

IN AN effort to create environmental awareness, pupils from a Uitenhage primary school got their hands dirty last week during a visit to the 40-year-old Zwartkops Conservancy.

The group of about 25 Winterberg Primary School pupils found various creatures, including hermit crabs, mud prawns, tongue worms and mangrove snails.

Zwartkops Conservancy environmentalist Jenny Rump told them to find any "animals" they could on the banks of the Swartkops River. The pupils were also taken to the Motherwell Canal, where they were informed about the storm water system and the pollution chain.

"It's important for the kids to be aware of the dangers regarding pollution, and for the creatures to survive, we as humans need to look after them," Rump said.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality voluntary coastal officer Wayne Rudman, who organised the outing, said Uitenhage was a big contributor to the pollution that entered the system and educating the children and public about this was vital.