Question: Do eels have eyesight that’s excellent, average or poor? What are baby eels called?
The answer is at the end of this story, but local residents, young and old, can find out the answers and much more about our wildlife at a new, interactive wildlife tile game which has been installed in Marsden Park at Park Central.
The tile game is the second student project to result from an initiative which saw staff from Campbelltown City Council and Western Sydney University encourage Campbelltown Performing Arts High School students to develop real life educational resources to improve the sustainability, usability and connectivity of a local waterway to the surrounding community.
The first student project, the illustrated children’s book Eric the Eel, was written and illustrated by Year 10 students, and followed the life of a migratory long-finned eel who eventually makes his home in the Park Central wetland.
Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr George Brticevic, said Eric the Eel had been an effective and fun way to teach children about the wildlife which use our waterways, and the importance of caring for those waterways.
“The new wildlife tile game will also give children the chance to have fun while learning about some of the species which live within the waterway at Marsden Park,” he said.
“To play, children spin the nine tiles to make up pictures of three different animals, including an eel, purple swamp hen and pacific black duck.
“Basic information about each species is displayed on an information panel, next to the board game.
“The information panel has a QR code that participants can scan with their smart phone if they’re interested in learning more,’’ the mayor explained.
“Council is committed to environmental education, and we are excited by projects like these which play a vital role in inspiring young people to not only get involved in their community, but to be hands-on in taking responsibility for our natural environment.”
For more information on Council’s other environmental initiatives, visit the website here.
♦ Answer: eels have poor eyesight and their babies are called elvers.
