This summary is generated by artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.
In Piura, there is a spectacled bear who has become an unexpected ambassador of the Peruvian fauna rescued from the still urgent problem of illegal trafficking. His name is Curioso, he lives in the Margarita Zoo sanctuary and is the protagonist of “Guardians of the fauna”, a video game created by local students that seeks to educate while entertaining.
Moved by the story, and with the motivation to contribute to a change, students and teachers of Toulouse Lautrec (@toulouselautrecperu) got to work in their creative laboratories. “We always made video games in short events, and over time they were dispersed. We wanted to create an environment with an impact,” explains Renzo Guido, coordinator of the Video Game Project Direction and Management degree at the educational institution. That initial structure found meaning when Margarita Zoo appeared along the way. “They told us, ‘We have a bear that might be the perfect fit.’ And everything started to take shape,” he adds.
The challenge was not minor: translating a complex problem—illegal animal trafficking—into a child-friendly experience. “The most difficult thing was to explain everything in a simple way, without losing the message,” says Mateo Cayo, a student of the course. “Children lose attention quickly, so you have to dose the information, hook them and continue,” he says.
To be captivating, the design takes on special relevance in “Guardians of the fauna”. Adela Romero, student in charge of the visual identity, was clear about the balance: “I wanted it to be as adorable as possible, but without losing what the spectacled bear represents. It’s not just a character, it’s a real animal with a story,” she reflects. The result was a universe of mini-games where users not only interact, but learn, customize and even become attached to Curioso.
YOU MAY BE INTERESTED: The young man from Villa El Salvador who took apart his toys, learned English on his own and achieved a full scholarship at MIT
But the impact of this initiative does not plan to remain only on the screens. The game has a specific goal: reach 5,000 downloads to take 50 low-income children in Piura to see the sanctuary. A direct bridge between the virtual and the real.
Because Margarita Zoo (@margarita.zoo) is not a conventional zoo, although its name may carry unwanted stereotypes. “Beyond the name, our idea has always been to be a rescue center: to receive animals that come from illegal trafficking, give them a safe space and, if possible, help them return to their habitat. Those who stay with us are those who can no longer return,” explains Lissette Ramos, general coordinator.
Today the sanctuary is home to everything from monkeys and macaws to pumas and crocodiles. Some are passing through; others, like Curious, stay. “Those who remain with us are those who cannot be reinserted. They have had too much human contact or irreversible injuries,” adds Ramos.
IN NUMBERS
50 children of limited resources will be able to visit Margarita Zoo in Piura and learn more about its conservation history if 5 thousand downloads of the video game are reached.
300 species wildlife in Peru face risk of disappearance. Illegal trafficking one of the most serious threats.
89 dogs They are part of the shelter of the NGO Cecilia Margarita, a project that was the starting point to venture into wildlife rescue.
10 kilos of fruits and vegetables is what you consume per day Curious. Their diet is also complemented with fish.
Curioso’s case is especially delicate. He was rescued in an area where spectacled bears are often victims of shamanism, a practice that leaves many cubs unable to survive on their own. Raised in contact with humans, returning to the wild is no longer an option.
That’s where spaces like Margarita Zoo become key. “Without rescue centers, many times there is nowhere to take the animals. And the alternative ends up being to put them to sleep,” says Álvaro Infante, administrator. A harsh phrase, but true. Likewise, they recount how they came to be a zoo: “At first we were just a rescue center. And our first rescue was Junior, a ferret. However, suddenly Peluche would come our way. [oso de anteojos fallecido el año pasado, por vejez]just months old. They had nowhere to take him and they were going to put him to sleep. To receive it, being a large species, we had to change our resolution. We did it to give him an opportunity, a home,” they explain moved.