Changes to Protect Us
More than 500,000 people visit Waitomo's Glow Worm Cave each year. They come from all over the world to see the glow-worms, tunnel systems, stalagmites and stalactites. Carbon dioxide from their breathing causes the condensing water to become corrosive and it deteriorates the limestone formations in the caves. When the micro-climate of the cave changes, as happened in 1979 when the access and entries were modified, the conditions for the glow worms changed and many died. Lets try to control the carbon dioxide level. Lets encourage tour operators to stagger their visits so that the number of visitors inside the cave is more even throughout the day. We need to continue with the research into cave microclimates to maintain the right atmosphere for the glow worms. The loss of this resource would have a terrible effect on the town. Jobs lost, school lost, stores all lost. It would also have a major effect on the nations tourism industry.
Many people come to Waitomo to visit other cave systems. A famous adventure is black water rafting. This involves putting on a wetsuit boots and helmet and floating through the cave on a rubber inner tube. It is a fun adventure BUT people involved in this activity need to be careful not to drop litter and be especially careful not to break the formations in the cave. Damage to the cave will ruin the experience for others.
We need to get all the people, not just tourists, to use the garbage containers.
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A lot was said in these lyrics.
We hope it doesn't happen to us and the only way it won't is if we do something about it.
"Big Yellow Taxi"
(feat. Vanessa Carlton)
They took all the trees, and put 'em in a tree museum
And they charged the people a dollar and a half to see them
No, no, no
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
Posters from New Zealand.
Waitomo reflections from Phil with help from Chris
Animation and changes from Cam & Dalton - Canada
Proofreading and editing - West Virginia