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Here is an interview conducted via email with Rachel-Rose (with help from the class). Rachel-Rose was one of the student coordinators for the charity bake sales held recently by the ninth grade biology class of Colegio Nueva Granada in Bogota, Colombia. We thought other people who are interested in holding a benefit event on behalf of tapirs might be interested in learning how these dedicated students put together a successful event. We want to thank our friends in Bogota, and the growing list of other groups, individuals, and organizations that have sent donations to help protect tapirs and their habitat. You're an inspiration: Keep up the good work!

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What is it about tapirs that makes them interesting to your class?
They are big, endangered, and kind of cute! Their nose is also very unique. It gets your attention.

What is your teachers name? How did your teacher help with your ideas?
His name is Bruce Lombardo. He is a very good teacher. He turned us on to the Tapir Preservation Fund on the internet. He was the one who assigned a paper on endangered species and one of the topics was a mountain tapir.

Are there tapirs near where you live in Colombia?
Yes, as a matter of fact there are. There are tapires in the Chingaza National Park and in the Sumapaz National Park.

Why is it important to save tapirs?
They help the Andes very much because of seed dispersal. They also are really cute!

Did you know that tapirs were in danger of becoming extinct before you started this project?
No I didn't. I didn't even know they existed. If it wasn't for Mr. Lombardo, none of this would have happened.

What steps did you take to put together the bake sales?
Well, we decided on two dates to hold the bake sales. People signed up on a list of what to bring. If the someone signed up to bring something and forgot, they had to do a punishment. We call this pagar penetencia. So, someone forgot one day... her punishment was to get on all fours and snort like a tapir while singing Don't Cry For Me, Argentina. This was to happen between the 5 minute bells between classes. She paid off her punishment of about 15.000 pesos ($15.00) instead.

Where did you have the event - at your school, or a park, or a home? Can you describe the setting so others can picture it in their mind?
The event took place in the cafeteria during lunch and break. We had "Save the Tapir" signs all around. "Save the Tapir" pins were also made and sold for a donation. The pins were made by a girl in our class named Juliana. She got cardboard pieces that were cream color, and with a burning kit she had, burned "Save the Tapirs" into the cardboard. She copied and pasted little, cute, baby tapir pictures with spots on them to the pins also. I think they were more popular than the baked goods!

How many people came to your event?
Hundreds of people, on both dates. (We are great cooks!)

What kinds of baked goods did you sell?
We had things like brownies, cookies, cake, cheesecake, rice krispie treats, popsicles, and chocolates. (Hungry yet?)

How did you get the word out about your event?
We announced it in the school announcements, signs all over the school, and people in class told all their friends... and then those people told their friends. Eventually, word got around.

Was this the first time that most people who came to your event had heard of tapirs?
Yes, most of the people. They knew tapirs as "dantas" before, though.

Now that you've had a successful event, what advice do you have for others who want to put together a fund-raising project?
Go for it!! Do everything you can. Make it known that it is VERY cool to save animals, no matter what kind. Many animals can help our earth - but if they all became extinct, then what kind of earth would we have left? Do anything and everything in your power to save animals!