“Let’s Protect the Gazelles!” Ecological Summer Camp

IDEA Public Union, the Azerbaijan branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the Republic Ecological Education and Practicum Center of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan organized an ecological summer camp titled “Let’s Protect the Gazelles!” within the framework of the “Reintroduction of Gazelles to Their Historically Inhabited Areas in the Caucasus” program. The camp, attended by more than 70 schoolchildren from the Goranboy, Samukh, Qakh, and Shaki districts, was held in the Goygol district from July 6 to 8.

The main goal of the ecological summer camp “Let’s Protect the Gazelles!” was to educate the young generation living in areas where gazelles have been reintroduced about this species. During the camp, participants received extensive information about the lifestyle of gazelles, their habitats, and their role in nature. Children also took part in various small ecological studies, quizzes, and competitions, and a field trip to Goygol National Park was organized for them. At the end of the camp, participants were awarded certificates and souvenir gifts.

The “Reintroduction of Gazelles to Their Historically Inhabited Areas in the Caucasus” program was initiated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in 2010 and is currently being successfully implemented through the joint collaboration of IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, and the WWF Azerbaijan branch. Over the years, more than 150 gazelles have been reintroduced from Shirvan National Park to their historically inhabited areas in Azerbaijan and Georgia, with ongoing monitoring and conservation efforts.

IDEA Public Union, the Azerbaijan branch of WWF, and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan regularly organize camps on environmental and biodiversity topics every year.