Safety Check - Important

Okay Questers, time to pay attention. 

We love hearing about how much fun you're having playing  QG - even how much you're getting addicted to it. It's great to be outdoors and learning about the environment. 

But if you're playing QuestaGame, it's MANDATORY that you follow this safety advisory.

FIRST, SAFETY FOR YOU

(a) THE TWO MOST DANGEROUS CREATURES IN THE WILD - CARS AND SUNSHINE

Cars - Avoid playing QuestaGame near roads or any habitats in which cars like to roam. (And, of course, do not play QuestaGame while driving).

Sunshine - wear plenty of sunscreen and a hat.

(b) WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING AND WHAT YOU TOUCH

If you're looking at your phone or tablet, you should not be moving. You should be standing still.

Best not to touch wildlife (see below: "Capture only with Photos"). Give dangerous animals plenty of space. Never put anything in your mouth and avoid handling dead animals.

Remember, if you decide to rescue an animal - from a busy road, say - your safety comes first. Better to contact an organisation that's trained to rescue injured animals where available. There's much more you can do to help conserve wildlife when you're healthy than when you're incapacitated. So be safe!

(C) PREPARATION AND SUPPLIES

Water - Drink plenty of water. If you go hiking, carry water with you to avoid dehydration. 

Communications - If you go exploring, make sure an adult knows where you are. Bring a phone. Make sure it's charged. Avoid trekking alone. Best to always have a "buddy" with you.

First aid kits - if you're out in the wild, good to have a first aid kit.

Footwear - the terrain in the wild can be rough, so be be sure to wear good sturdy footwear to protect yourself from unexpected stabs, stings, cuts, slips or other nasty injuries.

Planning - make sure you know where you're going, the sort of terrain you'll be in, any fire dangers, the right shoes/clothes to wear. Check weather reports and plan ahead.

(d) YOUR PRIVACY

If you’re concerned about your privacy, we suggest using a fake name. If you decide to change your name at any point, the name will be updated across all your sightings, on all databases. (QuestaGame is not interested in your personal data; it's interested in wildlife data that helps conserve biodiversity).

NOW FOR THE SAFETY OF THE WILDLIFE AROUND YOU

CAPTURE ONLY WITH PHOTOS

-   QuestaGame is about documenting, not touching. Sure, it's fun to have some insects crawl on you - stick insects, for example - but generally avoid handling creatures in the wild, especially frogs and other creatures that are tempting to pick up or touch. QuestaGame will generally reject photos that include people holding specimens.

-  Never feed or lure wildlife with food eaten by humans. 

-  Do not trap wildlife.

LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS

-   Be careful not to disturb the wildlife - avoid stressing the animals or exposing them to danger.

-   Be careful not to disturb wildlife habitats - stay away from nests and breeding areas (especially on the beach) and leave no trace of your activity. 

-  Clean your boots, tripods, bags or anything else that comes in contact with the ground after EVERY bush walk.

-   QuestaGame does not accept photos of birds on nests.

-  Learn what species are native and need protection, and what species are invasive or harmful to the local biodiversity. This way you can train your eyes to spot threats! 

THREATENED OR VULNERABLE SPECIES

If you wish to find and record the occurrence of a threatened species, seek expert advice beforehand. 

Okay, that's it. Now you can go back to having fun and enjoying the wonders of biodiversity!

Thank you for paying attention.

Team QG