Immotion, the global leader in immersive edutainment, is supporting work to protect the pangolin, a highly endangered species, by providing funding to the international science-led conservation charity the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
ZSL has received funds to support conservation efforts in four countries, including initiatives to improve pangolin survival rates globally. The institution’s conservation efforts in Thailand, Cameroon, Nepal, and the Philippines aim to reduce the illegal trade of pangolins across the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) supply chain, including local collecting and poaching, international trafficking, and demand reduction.
Supporting conservation education
Pangolins are one of the most illegally traded wild mammals, exceeding rhinos, elephants, and tigers. More than one million have been poached in the last decade alone. Their meat is considered a delicacy in some regions, and their scales are used in some Traditional Asian Medicine.
After winning an exclusive raffle drawing held by Immotion during the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria Directors’ Days conference in April, ZSL announced its pangolin initiative as its beneficiary. The raffle was open to all charitable organisations present who wanted to raise funds for their preferred in situ conservation programme.
Matthew Gould, chief executive officer at ZSL, says: “ZSL is working around the world to protect endangered wildlife. We appreciate Immotion’s recent collaboration in this highly crucial cause. Every contribution helps as we strive to protect this critically endangered species and pursue ways to create a safer, more sustainable future for pangolins worldwide.”
Immotion has built a reputation as a pioneer in interactive edutainment in the attraction arena, using motion-based 360 degree VR technology. The company has also been an early supporter of conservation education and aims to educate and engage audiences of all ages through award-winning film experiences such as Gorilla Trek, produced in collaboration with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to highlight the plight of endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda.
Rod Findley, president and CEO at Immotion, says: “It’s our distinct pleasure to support this vital program. ZSL’s conservation efforts align with the education efforts our team champions. We look forward to helping increase attention on these efforts through our recent collaboration with ZSL and other zoos and aquariums around the world.”
Immotion recently launched a new virtual reality film, The Great Migration, at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Mid-Year Meeting. This film experience uses motion-based, 360 degree virtual reality technology to immerse viewers in the amazing journey of over two million animals as they move between Tanzania’s Serengeti and the Maasai Mara reserves in Kenya.
