Port Moresby Nature Park

In its endeavour to educate and inspire in others the guardianship of PNG’s unique natural environment and culture, the Port Moresby Nature Park’s ‘Culture Connects’ schools excursion program is designed for children to learn more about music, the value of traditional money, the skills of weaving and their unique designs, and messages of our ancestors that have been passed down through generations by the art of tattooing, the weaving of bilums and the art of making carvings.

This follows the hosting of a group of dedicated amphibian researchers and volunteers from the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN) Red List and The Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) for a week-long workshop to assess the extinction risks of all amphibian species in Papua New Guinea. 

During the workshop, a number of frogs’ status were raised to endangered, mainly due to decreasing population as a result of land clearing from logging and palm oil production.

General Manager for Nature Park, Michelle McGeorge, said: “Our 100,000 school student marks another significant milestone in particular for our education department who dedicate themselves to educating the next generation in biology and conservation.

“It is always a delight to see young faces light up when they come to the Park to learn about animals and plants.

The organisation said this is the first time a tourism attraction in PNG has received such recognition. 

The Park received its first TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2015.

Park General Manager, Michelle McGeorge, said the award has given validation to staff for the many years of hard work into making the park the best recreational attraction in PNG. 

Now in its ninth year, the achievement celebrates businesses that are consistently excellent – having earned great traveller reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year.

This will be the fifth year in a row that the event has been held at the Nature Park with this year’s theme ‘Life below water: for people and planet’. The event aims to raise awareness about the diversity of marine life, the importance of marine species to human development, and how to make sure it continues to provide for future generations.

The event will bring together conservation organisations both big and small along with Government departments.

Digicel PNG has been a proud Gold Sponsor of Port Moresby Nature Park since 2012 through the provision of in-kind CUG, Internet, EVD Top Up and maintenance support. 

Digicel PNG Senior Vice President & Chief Sales Officer, Lorna McPherson, said: “We’ve been a sponsor to the Port Moresby Nature Park since their infant stages back in 2012 and we are delighted to have been a part of their growth their accomplishments over the years.

The four staff members participated in a three-day zoo keeper workshop on The Future of Zoo Animal Welfare, conducted by Zoos Victoria at the Melbourne Zoo.

Port Moresby Nature Park’s life sciences manager, Ishimu Bebe, who also attended the training, said: “As an accredited zoo, Port Moresby Nature Park care about their animals and in ensuring the best possible welfare is given.”

The trip was part of Nature Park’s commitment to continuing to develop and enhance the skills of their staff to adhere to international zoo keeping standards.

Prof. Flannery’s extensive career as a scientist includes describing 29 new kangaroo species and 21 new species of Melanesian mammals. The Greater Monkey-faced Bat (Pteralopex flanneryi) was named in honour of him.

His work in palaeontology includes the discovery of dinosaur fossils in Australia as well as describing fossils of early mammal species in Papua New Guinea, including a family of possums known as the phalangerids.

With the focus firmly on traditional skills and knowledge, the event will showcase the skill and expertise involved with traditional crafts including carvings, basket weaving, bilum making as well as showcase the preparation and making of traditional foods, bilas preparations and others.

This will be the second year that the Port Moresby Nature Park has put on the event with the support and backing of the NCDC and the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority. 

The Park's general manager, Michelle McGeorge, recalls joining the park seven years ago.

The area had no proper communication platform - no telephone line and internet. There were only 5 computers and 2 email addresses.

Since commencing this partnership, Digicel has helped in projects such as lining fibre optic cabling, CUG (closed user group) for staff, telephone line and internet.

Today, Digicel once more announced its continued gold sponsorship support of the park.