Port Moresby Nature Park

Nature Park celebrates 5 years

The Nature Park was the vision of Governor Powes Parkop, who along with the NCDC Board, made the decision back in 2010 that the then National Capital Botanical Gardens was no longer living up to the expectations and needs of the city and that the site had the potential to be so much more, not only for residents but also as a tourism attraction to the region.

Following the introduction of a new management team with many years of international experience operating similar attractions overseas, NCDC’s City Manager officially launched Port Moresby Nature Park on 16 June, 2012.  

New Reptile Precinct to open!

The Park hopes to showcase up to 30 different individual animals from snakes, both venomous and non-venomous, to turtles and frogs.

This will be the only place where people will be able to see venomous snakes on public display.

The Park hopes to use that space as well to educate people on the importance of snakes.

POMNP general manager Michelle McGeorge said they also want to teach people how to protect themselves so that they are not in harm’s way.

​Nature Park launches new kitchen

This will enable the park to provide more effective on-site catering to large functions and for visiting tour groups.

The facility is set to meet the growing demand of catering in the park and is located near the Park’s existing and popular Nature’s Café.

POMNP general manager Michelle McGeorge revealed during the launch today that the Park had half a million visitors in the last five years and 19,000 students visited annually.

What to do with snakes…

Most people would want to kill the snake or call someone else to kill it.

But Susan Fari, wildlife officer with Port Moresby Nature Park, says you should walk away from it.

She says the reason behind most attacks is because they were disturbed.

“They’d only attack if they are disturbed or feel threatened. For a python, they don’t go around looking for prey, they ambush them - meaning, they sleep at a particular area and await their prey.

Do not hunt to sell: Research officer

Nature Park gave these animals a voice yesterday at their event to recognise the World Wildlife Day.

On their poster were the words; Noken baim meat blo sikau.

The message stressed was not to encourage the idea of hunting to sell.

Shirley Mogi and education research officer with the Nature Park said the biggest threat today was of hunters hunting to sell at the markets.

She said in the past, hunting was for household consumption. Today however, the practise has changed as people are driven by money.

Conservation organistations observe World Wildlife Day

So yesterday, it was all about educating people on protecting the wildlife at Port Moresby Nature Park.

Recognising the World Wildlife day which falls on March 4, the park invited wildlife organisations to display products and do awareness.

At least 15 conservation organisations came out including ExxonMobil PNG, The Nature Conservancy, RSPCA of PNG, Wildlife Conservation Society and more.

Families turned up in numbers as the park came alive with many fun activities including face-painting to jumping castles for kids, filling crossword puzzles and many more.

World Wildlife Day gets K50,000 boost

This is the second consecutive year ExxonMobil PNG (EMPNG) has partnered with the Park to highlight World Wildlife Day.

Port Moresby Nature Park’s general manager, Michelle McGeorge, said: “ExxonMobil PNG is a major partner of the Nature Park, spanning over the last four years which has enabled us to achieve a great number of projects and we are really excited about how big this year’s World Wildlife Day is going to be, with over 18 conservation and Government organisations already confirmed.”

EMPNG to support World Wildlife Day

This will be the third year in a row that the event has been held at the Nature Park with this year’s theme ‘Listen to the Young Voices’. 

World Wildlife Day is an international day declared by the UN to celebrate and raise awareness on the world’s wildlife.

Culture Week for city kids

The weeklong educational event, based on Papua New Guinea’s unique cultures, will be hosted at the Port Moresby Nature Park.

PNG is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world with 852 known languages and tribes in the country.

Nature Park education program coordinator Ishimu Bebe told Loop PNG that the cultural program highlights how PNG’s unique cultures play a very important role in the different cultural societies.

Educator: Outdoor learning has advantage

Port Moresby Nature Park education program coordinator, Ishimu Bebe, says students who undergo their education environment programs during school excursions and the holidays have learnt a lot. 

Bebe says their education environment programs, like Kids for Conservation, World Wildlife Week and Culture Week, were developed specifically to help children learn about plants and animals.

The programs aim to inspire, educate and foster this learning and the appreciation of the native flora and fauna that PNG has.