Mumbai:  The Penguin Coast outdoor exhibit at the world’s largest bird paradise has been transformed into a first-of-its-kind origami wonderland this June holidays. ‘Save the Colour,’ an ongoing weekend event at Jurong Bird Park, allows visitors to step into the ‘Origami Village’ and help rebuild the habitats of the birds by folding origami items like cranes, ‘ice blocks’, fishes, flowers and colourful handicraft butterflies, and re-populating them back to their landscapes, each with their own conservation themes.

With each hands-on activity, kids learn about the symbolism of what they create. Through folding origami ice-blocks and adding them back to Antarctica, children learn about global warming and the melting of ice-caps. By placing folded fishes back to the “rivers” and planting folded flowers back to the ‘garden,’ they learn about the negative effects of over-fishing and deforestation. Through the act of adding their handicraft butterflies back into the ‘garden’, kids learn the importance of butterflies to a balanced ecosystem and are taught not to disturb the butterflies if they see them in gardens.

Kids can also ‘adopt a bird’ by folding a paper crane and making a contribution to the Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund. They are encouraged to attach a personal pledge to save the birds on their folded crane and thereafter, hang it on the ‘trees’ in the ‘garden.’ The young conservationists can also spread the conservation message by sending free pre-paid postcards to their family and friends at the village’s ‘Post Office.’ To add to the fun, kids can also celebrate the beautiful colours of the birds by getting free bird face-paintings and air-brush bird tattoos in the Origami Village.

‘Save the Colour” is a hands-on and colourful way in which the whole family can participate and learn more about avian conservation and the various elements that contribute to a healthy ecosystem. Activities will take place every June weekend from 10am to 4pm. Event participation is free, but normal park admission charges apply.