Suva Christian Community High School joins NFMV as a Corporate GOLD member

Through the leadership of its Principal, Ms. Christina Yee, the Suva Christian Community High School has shown support for NFMV efforts in the conservation of Fiji’s biodiversity and natural resources, by signing up as a Corporate GOLD member.

The school wishes also to encourage the students to become interested in and knowledge about Fijian conservation through active participation.

Students of Suva Christian Community High School (SCCHS) pose for a photograph. Photo provided by SCCHS
Students of Suva Christian Community High School (SCCHS) pose for a photograph. Photo provided by SCCHS

Vvisit to the Wailotua Bat cave

The first activity that NFMV will be involved with SCCHS is a day’s visit to the Wailotua Bat cave, a nursing roost of the Fiji blossom bat Notopteris macdonaldi currently listed as Endangered under the globally recognized IUCN Redlist of threatened species.

Here the students will be shown the cave by guides from the village and see roosting Fiji blossom bats, a species which is restricted to Fiji and Vanuatu.

In Fiji, nursing caves for the blossom bat have only been documented on Viti levu and currently number only five.

Quarrying for limestone at Wailotua is a threat to this endangered species and no research or monitoring is currently being undertaken.

A Fiji blossom bat. Photo by Kelera Macedru
A Fiji blossom bat. Photo by Kelera Macedru

Suva Christian Community School originated in America in the 1970’s. The school was founded in Suva in 1997 with a total of six students; today the High School has approximately 90 students.