27/02/2021

Archive

Education resources | Polar bears

As its International Polar Bear Day , here are some education materials of the groups that work with these unique mammals… Polar Bears International Many free downloads including lesson plans, posters, PowerPoint and videos like this one… National Geographic has great fact sheets and video also https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/polar-bear National Wildlife Federation has fact sheets WWF – World Wildlife Fund – Did you know polar are defined as ‘marine mammals’ due to how much time they spend in ocean and that they rely...

All about amphibians & reptiles

Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians, and those who study them are referred to as herpetologists. A reptile 🦎 is… Reptiles are air-breathing vertebrates covered in special skin made up of scales, bony plates, or a combination of both. They include crocodiles, snakes, lizards, turtles, and tor- toises. … Because of their slow metabolism and heat-seeking behavior, reptiles are cold-blooded. ( National Geo )  An amphibian is…. Amphibians are small vertebrates that need water, or a moist environment, to...

Scouting & conservation | Baden Powell

Today – February 22nd –  is the birthday (Founders Day ) of Baden Powell of Gillwell , or “BP” for short. Lord Baden-Powell (1857-1941) was a British general and founder of the modern Scouting movement. Baden-Powell became a national hero during the Boer war of 1899-1900 when, with a small garrison, he commanded the defence of Mafeking. During the Boer War, Baden-Powell wrote “A Guide to Scouting”. This was published in 1908 and was a best-seller. Initially meant for military...

Creature feature | Pangolin still in trouble!

This shy, scaly creature is the world’s most trafficked mammal—with more than a million pangolins poached in the past decade. Learn more about the pangolin, why all eight pangolin nspecies are at risk of extinction, and the conservation efforts needed to save them.  According to Nat Geo – Smuggling networks that once focused on ivory are increasingly turning to pangolins. From 2019 : It was a monumental win for pangolin conservation as all 8 pangolin species were uplisted to Appendix...

Hippos… beware the water horse!

  It’s World Hippo Day So…. on an overland trip in East Africa in the 1990s, my wife and I learned that the hippo – not the lion or elephant or rhino – is categorised as the most dangerous wild animal in the continent! Why? Those teeth and jaws are ultra powerful Some more facts about the hippo… “Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) are large, round, water-loving animals that are native to Africa. The word “hippopotamus” comes from the Greek word for...

South Pacific Geography | Tsunamis

The reports of a tsunami impacting Lord Howe Island last night … A tsunami warning for New Zealand and Australia’s Lord Howe Island ( 700 km off New South Wales ) , sparked by a 7.7 magnitude undersea earthquake near New Caledonia, causing small tsunami waves to hit Norfolk Island and prompting prompted marine warnings for Lord Howe Island, 700km off the coast of New South Wales – beg the question… What is a tsunami?  Earthquakes Information has been posted showing...

Quotes | Charles Darwin

Charles Robert Darwin  12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once every week.” ― CD, The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, 1809–82    “Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who...

Flying animals – foxes, bats flying into trouble!

Today is ‘kite flying day’ … so , as a twist, here is something about ‘flying ‘ creatures –  flying foxes / bats. Australia Flying foxes are….. “intelligent and remarkable. These unique animals help regenerate our forests and keep ecosystems healthy through pollination and seed dispersal. They are a migratory and nomadic ‘keystone’ species; meaning a species that many other species of plants and animals rely upon for their survival and wellbeing. Flying foxes, like bees, help drive biodiversity, and...

Eco anxiety is real. Some ideas what to do for children

As its Mental Health Week in the United Kingdom- and ‘eco-anxiety’ is a topic that has arisen Medical News Today states : “Eco-anxiety refers to a fear of environmental damage or ecological disaster. This sense of anxiety is largely based on the current and predicted future state of the environment and human-induced climate change. According to a 2018 national survey, almost 70% of people in the United States are worried about climate change, and around 51% feel “helpless.” Anxiety around environmental...

Environmental actions | Ipswich, Australia

Ipswich – near Brisbane, Queensland – seems sadly to have a negative reputation , has an amazing ‘ecological basis’ – “one of the most diverse ranges of natural vegetation types in South East Queensland, being home to a large number of native flora and fauna and over 2,000 recorded species of native plants and animals. The Ipswich Enviroplan Program supports the identification, protection and maintenance of vital ecosystems and natural environmental values. “ ( Ipswich Enviroplan )   Enviroplan Program Ever...