JOIN THE FUN: Primatologist Dr Jane Goodall (above, right foreground) will lead a 1km march at the event which encourages the public to come dressed as endangered plants or animals, like the participants did in Taipei last year. -- PHOTOS: JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE OF TAIWAN, BETH BURNETT AND VIVIAN LIN

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That's when people will be dressed up as endangered plants and animals to take part in a parade a la Chingay.

The Gardens is hosting the first-ever Singapore Wildlife Stampede organised by the Jane Goodall Institute of Singapore (JGIS).

Registered this month, it is part of a network of environmental groups founded by the renowned British primatologist and humanitarian.

During the Stampede, Dr Goodall will lead members of the public and local Roots And Shoots groups - a youth-oriented programme of JGIS - in the 1km march.

A similar event was held in Taipei last October by the branch of the Jane Goodall Institute there.

'You can come dressed as anything as long as it is related to the environment,' says Dr Vilma D'Rozario, event coordinator of JGIS.

'I know members of the Vegetarian Society are coming dressed as vegetables.'

JGIS president Richard Hartung says the non-profit organisation aims to highlight environmental conservation and raise awareness of endangered species at the Stampede.

Helping to organise it are 20 National Institute of Education student teachers undergoing a mandatory Group Endeavours in Service Learning programme.

They have also donated $3,000 received from the National Youth Council towards the event.

JGIS has the support of Minister of Education Tharman Shanmugaratnam who met Dr Goodall during her visit last November.

Dr D'Rozario says the Ministry of Education has twice sent e-mail to schools to get them to participate.

Eight schools registered with Roots And Shoots are doing so, from walking in the parade to performing at the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden and Symphony Lake.

They include Hwa Chong Institution, Chung Cheng High School and Singapore American School (SAS).

SAS teacher-in-charge Martha Began says her students will be performing an animal call song and African dance.

But response to calls for volunteers and participants is 'still slow', says Dr D'Rozario, referring to the 200 adults and children signed up so far.

She hopes to get a marching contingent of at least triple that size and an audience turnout of 1,000.

'We basically have no funds so we need all the help we can get,' she says.

'A marching band and other music-makers would add vibrancy. A lion-dance troupe to open the parade would be great.'