Landau unites for bird protection: card game connects cultures!

Landau unites for bird protection: card game connects cultures!

On July 10, 2025, despite heavy rain, Landau Zoo was the scene of an extraordinary event. An innovative ornithological card game was presented here, which was created in collaboration with educational partners from Rwanda. Prime Minister Alexander Schweitzer was present and took this opportunity to highlight the 40-year partnership between Rwanda and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Mayor remembered in a moving speech Luke Hartmann about his own childhood memories of visiting zoos and emphasized the importance of such initiatives that not only expand knowledge about the local bird world, but also build bridges between different cultures. The card game, which can be played both as a quartet and as a memory, is intended to promote knowledge of species and at the same time support the protection of bird diversity.

Educational partnership and international cooperation

The Landau Zoo School, under the direction of Dr. Gudrun Hollstein, has been active in promoting species conservation and education for years. The close cooperation with the environmental education center “Umusambi Village” in Rwanda shows the efforts to bring about a change in cultural perspective and improve educational work. This is done through international exchanges, such as the exchange of eight educators and students from the University of Koblenz-Landau who traveled to Rwanda in August to visit nature reserves.

“The project aims to protect bird diversity and provide creative educational work,” said Dr. Hollstein. The partnership enables both sides to develop educational materials on the topic of “bird diversity and bird protection”. In September, a delegation from Umusambi Village will travel to Rhineland-Palatinate to visit the zoo school and other cultural institutions and exchange ideas.

A particular focus is on the Eastern Gray Crowned Crane, an endangered species. Landau Zoo has been committed to protecting and preserving its natural habitats in Rwanda for years, including a successful breeding initiative. The card game developed as part of the project, which provides information about the habitats, food and special features of bird species, reflects this commitment.

The path to biodiversity

The presentation of the card game is not only a colorful addition to the zoo visit, but also an expression of commitment to the common goal: protecting biodiversity. A total of 1,000 copies of the card game were printed, financed by the State Chancellery of Rhineland-Palatinate, with 500 games in German and 500 in English for Rwanda.

The card game will be used not only in Germany, but also in Rwanda, as a video message from Rwanda demonstrated, in which children demonstrated their knowledge of bird species in a playful competition. The student Paul Donie presented the card game during the event, which aims to feature both local and Rwandan bird species.

Anyone interested can contact Landau Zoo directly to find out more about the card game and the projects behind it. Commitment to species protection and international educational work is clearly booming here.