Local communities play a key role in the sustainability of any conservation program. We evaluated the impact of an environmental education program for school children in the surroundings of the Delta du Saloum Biosphere reserve (Senegal) dedicated to the conservation of African charismatic fauna with the critically endangered Western Derby eland as a conservation flagship. Questionnaires evaluating knowledge and attitudes were filled in by children before and after the program in 2008 and 2009. We found a significant increase in knowledge that carries the potential to support conservation activities of protected area management. This knowledge alone is, however, not enough to change behavior and attitudes, proving the need to approach the problem in context of a complex, targeted awareness campaign.