years of civil war, will soon be receiving help from Bermuda -- thanks to staff and volunteers attached to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.

Although members of the public are being called upon to help with this effort, they will not be asked to donate money.

Instead, through its membership of North America's Zoo Conservation Outreach Group (ZCOG, pronounced `Zu-Cog'), Bermuda has just joined an ingenious recycling of assets scheme, through which basic equipment and tools will be sent to Petencito Zoo, near the famous Mayan ruins at Tikal in Guatemala.

"We are hoping that the Bermuda public will help us to get this zoo on its feet. They are in desperate need of quite ordinary things like hammers, tape measures, buckets and brooms, and all sorts of office supplies. So, if you're clearing out the garage, please give us a call. Even if you have just one box of spare nails, it all helps,'' says volunteer Mr. Jonathon Burkin, who with a small group of colleagues plans to take the equipment collected to Guatemala this coming November.

It was while he was attending the annual conference of the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums in Toronto last September, that Mr. Burkin first heard about the effort to help the zoos of Central America, many of which are experiencing serious difficulties through lack of financial resources and trained staff.

As a result of his enthusiasm, seven staff members and volunteers joined ZCOG and because of their personal commitment to the cause, the Bermuda Zoological Society has since been granted complimentary membership.

Head keeper and zoo supervisor Mr. James Conyers says, "We think the effort to help Petencito Zoo is a great idea. We have equipment here in the zoo that is being phased out, so it makes sense to send it where it will be of some use.'' He and Mr. Burkin see this programme as a vital contribution to the worldwide commitment to environmental preservation, noting that with more than three million people visiting Central American zoos each year, there is a potential captive audience for getting the conservation message across.

"Many of these people live in big cities, so for them, a zoo may be their only contact with wildlife. If they see animals kept in inadequate facilities, that's sending a very bad message! At the Toronto conference, I saw pictures of a gibbon that was being held in a tiny box in a Central American zoo and it was quite horrifying. If people see animals being kept in conditions like that, they will assume that it's okay to treat animals that way. We also have to remember that there is still a lot of wild habitat that can be saved down there, but people have to be educated about its importance and one of the best ways of doing that is through the zoos.'' Most importantly, Mr. Conyers believes that a project like this enhances Bermuda's growing reputation as a small but good conservation establishment.

"This scheme began in 1988 and we are only the fourth or fifth zoo to participate. We are now recognised as a channelling point for conservation projects.'' Mr. Conyers, who hopes to accompany the volunteers on their November mission to Guatemala, emphasises that they will be paying their own way, taking a "working'' holiday. Besides delivering the equipment, they will be helping the Guatemalans on zoo management and staff training.

"They have nothing like that down there and with a budget of only $14,000 a year, it is very difficult. Some of the staff cannot even read or write.'' He feels that Bermuda is particularly well suited for a project of this type since the Island's Aquarium and Zoo is itself very small.

"If you compare us with the huge zoos overseas, obviously we are operating on a very different financial level. But we have proved that it's possible to produce quality exhibits and develop conservation programmes with limited resources and, hopefully, this should be encouraging for Petencito Zoo. This first trip down there will also be in the nature of an investigation as to how we can best help them on a long-term basis.'' For Jonathon Burkin, his involvement with Bermuda's Aquarium and Zoo can be said to have changed his life since his arrival here nearly two years ago to work as the chef-de-rang at Once Upon a Table.

As a lover of animals and birds, his eye was drawn, shortly after he arrived, to an advertisement in The New Resident's Guide, asking for volunteers to work at the Aquarium. By the end of his first year, he had clocked up more hours -- 750 of them -- than any other volunteer, and had embarked on two correspondence courses, one on exotic animal management through the National Extension College in Cambridge, and a course in ornithology through Cornell University. His achievements were recognised when he was chosen by the Bermuda Zoological Society to attend last year's Toronto conference, attended by 1,500 representatives from zoos all over North America, and he is thrilled that, as a result of that conference, he is now heading up Bermuda's ZCOG project for Guatemala.

"I work mainly in the evenings, so most of my days are free. I spent the first year learning about the animals in general and finding out what I was specially interested in.'' For Mr. Burkin, that turned out to be birds, and parrots in particular, which he cites as being "incredibly intelligent''.

There are many areas where volunteers can be of vital assistance, says Mr.

Conyers.

"Basically the volunteers are split into two shifts but we can make special arrangements to fit in with their jobs or commitments. We would rather have someone come in just once a week for a couple of hours and be absolutely reliable about it, rather than someone who comes every day for a couple of weeks and then fades out. There is no point in our training people like that -- and there is a lot of training involved if volunteers are to be used efficiently.'' Areas where volunteers are employed are extremely varied and include turtle scrubbing, fish feeding, and a programme of turtle-tagging inside Bermuda's reef line. In the zoo, there is a need for assistance in basic animal husbandry, such as diets and care of cages in both the display and breeding/quarantine areas.

In the meantime, the Equipment Drive for Guatemala is well under way. The "wish list'' includes tools, such as hammers, screwdrivers, saws, pliers, hand-drills, and yard equipment such as buckets, brooms, wheelbarrows, hoses, rakes, chainsaw and shovel. In the dietary department, knives, food containers, mixing bowls and measuring cups are all needed and some of the miscellaneous requirements include fishing nets, first-aid kits for both animals and humans, hot water bottles, typewriters, all kinds of office supplies and a portable generator.

"There are lots of people who would like to be involved in the conservation effort, and this is a good way of supporting it. As long as equipment is in workable condition, we would be very pleased to hear as soon as possible from anyone who can help. Petencito Zoo has no electricity and up until last October, only had one hammer!'' says Mr. Burkin.

Items in usable condition may be dropped off at the Zoo Office on Sunday mornings from 9-12 noon. Mr. Burkin says he would be pleased to deal with any enquiries on the ZCOG project (Tel. 293-2727).

Every little bit helps. . .

ZOO QUEST -- Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo volunteer Mr. Jonathon Burkin is asking for practical donations to help a zoo that is on the brink of disaster in Guatemala.