Day one: In the field with one of our main
characters Farhana.
Meeting Farhana I should mention was a
turning point for the development of this story. The
original plan was to
follow different established researchers working to conserve the Ganges river
dolphin. But after meeting Farhana, who worked for one of these groups in
Bangladesh, it became apparent that the story here was about the problems young
conservationists face in S central Asia, in their battle to stay in this field.
And then what the loss of the young people could mean for the future of
conservation in the region. Farhana herself struggles with this issue, having a
job based on grants.
Farhana Akhtar looks out over the waters near the oil spill. |
Farhana works as the education coordinator
for the one and only dolphin research group in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Cetacean Diversity Project (BCDP). She had just finished helping this group
complete a major project, which was to create a permanent educational exhibit
about the dolphins and whales found in Bangladesh waters, when the oil spill
occurred. Her job responsibilities have therefore shifted considerably as a
result, and now involve helping to coordinate field activities to access the
damage.
Farhana has a minute to smile when explaining the work
she did to help create the educational exhibit behind her
|
That being said, Farhana was able to take a
short break to give a quick tour of the new exhibit. It includes full size
sculptures of the two dolphins found in the waters of the Sundarbans (the
Ganges river dolphin and the Irrawaddy) and then many kiosks with loads of
fantastic information. It is immediately apparent that considerable thought
went into choosing the design and the educational material for this space. The
exhibit is now open for visitors to view, but the BCDP would like to finish it with
a roof to help protect the exhibit from sun and rain. If you would like to help
in that effort you can contact the BCDP.
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