"Dongeng Konserasi" Project in the Siklop Mountains
What is the Conservation Storytelling Project, and why was it initiated?
Dongeng Konservasi (Conservation Storytelling) Project was born out of concern that many children living in the Siklop Mountains had never heard of the Payangko (long-beaked echidna) and other native species of the region. These animals are not only rare, threatened, and unique, but they also play vital ecological roles in maintaining the balance of nature. Children are the next generation that will inherit and care for this natural wealth. That’s why we aim to strengthen their local knowledge and appreciation of these valuable species.
One of the main outputs of this project is a storybook. We chose storytelling as a medium because it is easy to understand, engaging, and creative. Through stories, children can enjoy the narrative while also learning about the unique characters of the Payangko. From this idea, the Dongeng Konservasi Project was initiated, with one of its key goals being to reinforce local knowledge of species in the Siklop Mountains especially among children.
How did the Dongeng Konservasi Project work?
In 2019 and 2020, the project was carried out through a collaboration between the Creator Team, Yayasan KONKLUSI, and the Conservation Group (UK). Together, we developed a storybook featuring the wildlife of the Siklop Mountains, with a special focus on the Payangko or echidna.
Supported by the EDGE of Existence program of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), this project was more than just producing a storybook. It’s the result of a collaborative work combining scientific knowledge with the lived experiences of local communities in the Siklop Mountains. The output was a story book that is easy to digest, visually engaging, and rich in species knowledge.
Beyond creating and distributing the storybook to Yongsu Desoyo and Yongsu Spari Villages, we also designed a series of creative learning activities centered on biodiversity. These included storytelling sessions, role-play learning, handicraft making, and other interactive activities that made conservation education fun and memorable.
The Conservation Storytelling Project invites everyone to take part in protecting and conserving endangered species. Through stories, we hope to inspire awareness, empathy, and action for the future of biodiversity in the Siklop Mountains and beyond.
Poko & The Beloved Egg
One of the outputs of this project is a storybook titled “Poko dan Telur Kesayangan” (Poko and the Beloved Egg). This storybook follows Poko, a curious echidna on a quest to find her missing egg. As she searches, Poko meets and speaks with many animals around her, building friendships along the way. The story carries themes of friendship and introduces readers to the unique wildlife of the Cyclops Mountains.
If you’d like to read the full storybook of Poko, please visit the link below. Link to read
Gallery of Dongeng Konservasi
