As home to one of the world's most endangered ecosystems, the Cloud Forest, El Triunfo Biological Reserve must be protected so carefully that few may visit each year. Now, through the play Guardians of the Mist at the Chiapas Zoo, audiences are introduced to issues affecting this environmental treasure. The show follows the heroic efforts of an animal kingdom protecting itself from habitat destruction and serves to build empathy and emotional connection to the forest and its diverse species.
Chiapas is one of the most biologically and culturally diverse states in Mexico, and home to El Triunfo: an ecological reserve established to protect and celebrate local biodiversity. Unfortunately, of the 1,136 animal species living within El Triunfo, 198 are considered "at-risk": 7 amphibians, 14 reptiles, 103 birds, and 6 mammals. These unique and beautiful animals are struggling to survive in the face of poaching, climate change, deforestation and degradation of their native land.
Guardians of the Mist details the adventures of Jacinta, a girl who joins forces with endangered native animals to save the Cloud Forest from a human-controlled robot destroying the ecosystems. The play uses Entertainment-Education to leave long-lasting impressions about the importance of these animals to global environmental preservation efforts. It generates both financial and popular support that allow El Triunfo to continue fighting for the survival of endangered species in the Cloud Forest.
The project promotes the care of ecosystems and helps slow climate change through compelling entertainment. Since its premiere in 2014, Guardians of the Mist has helped audiences build long-term empathetic connections with this ecosystem and the values behind its preservation. However, the Cloud Forest will not last without external support. We hope to bring this play to new locations to compel global engagement in preservation efforts, both for this fragile ecosystem and others worldwide.
