Makassar (ANTARA) - The One Health Collaborating Center (OHCC) published a children's storybook entitled "Fly Free, Allo!" as a form of education for students about wildlife conservation. The launch took place at the Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park Office in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi.

"This book is part of the One Health Approach to Raise Wildlife Protection Awareness or OHAWE project, which aims to increase public awareness, especially among school children," said Program Manager of Udayana OHCC, Ni Komang Semara Yanti, on Saturday.

Furthermore, the book contains information on the importance of protecting and preventing the trade of wildlife, as well as the risk of disease transmission from wildlife to humans.

She stated that this book launch is part of the OHAWE project, supported by the International Alliance Against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade and implemented by the German Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

In Indonesia, this project was initiated by the OHCC of Udayana University in partnership with the OHCC of Hasanuddin University (Unhas) in South Sulawesi.

"This year, the book creation is being carried out in five provinces. The result is an illustrated storybook in three different languages: Indonesian, English, and the local language of each region. In South Sulawesi, the local language used is Makassarese," she explained.

"With this book, children can understand that they are forbidden from hunting wildlife, so that they will keep wildlife wild in its natural habitat to prevent extinction and avoid the transmission of zoonotic diseases," she added.

Semara said that the project could bring greater benefits because the books will not only be distributed to one school, but also to other schools.

Meanwhile, the representative from Unhas OHCC, Anak Agung Putu Joni Wahyuda, expressed great pride in being able to contribute to the OHAWE project through efforts to mitigate the rampant trade of wildlife.

"Education begins by targeting communities and elementary school children around conservation areas. We hope we can collaborate again with Udayana OHCC through other activities related to One Health," he said.

The Head of the Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park Office, Tutut Heri Wibowo, stated his full support for the book launch. He mentioned that collaborations like this educate the public through conservation education to preserve endemic wildlife.

"Education must be carried out continuously because conservation cannot be done alone. Every element has its own potential to protect wildlife," he emphasized.

Previously, 75 students from grades 4, 5, and 6 of SD Negeri Pakallu 1 Maros attended the book launch event, which was accompanied by a storytelling session of the book's contents.

The book "Fly Free, Allo!" tells the story of a Sulawesi Hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix) named Allo who was captured by a hunter but was successfully rescued by a child named Tata.

With the help of her father, Tata reported the incident to the forest police at the Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park Office, leading to Allo being released back into the wild.

"This activity is truly exceptional because it broadens the horizons of both students and educators and enriches knowledge about wildlife," said the Principal of SDN 1 Pakallu I, Ratnawati Dewi.