endangered species

Hello Buffalo

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Hello Buffalo

We are so excited to meet today’s animal. They are large and in charge and have a pair of horns you don’t want to come close too!

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Cape Bufffalo Fun Facts: 

  • These large bovines can weigh up to 1,500 lbs. They can grow over 5 feet at the shoulder.
  • They are considered one of the big 5 species in South Africa. That includes, lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and Cape buffalo.
  • Those large horns are a part of their skeletal structure. Males have larger horns than females and can grow up to 5 feet.
  • The large area of the horns on the forehead of male is called the boss.
  • These large herbivores may only eat grass, but they are dangerous. They can charge without notice.
  • They are fantastic swimmers.
  • Cape buffalo live in herds of 50-500 individuals. Younger males form bachelor groups within the herd. Older males may be solitary.
  • The are listed as LEAST CONCERN by the IUCN.

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We wouldn’t say the Cape buffalo is the cutest animal on the block. You definitely do not want to get too close. A charging buffalo is not a cute buffalo.

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, horses, insects, lizards, Local, turtles, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Off to South Africa

Posted on April 3, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Off to South Africa

Did you guess where are our next adventure will be? If you guessed South Africa- you are correct! Yay! We are off to meet some of the iconic animals of this beautiful country, but first let’s learn more about South Africa today!

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South Africa Fun Facts: 

  • Table Mountain in Cape Town in one of the oldest mountains in the world.
  • The waters off the coast of South Africa can be quiet dangerous. It is believed that 2,000 shipwreck are in the waters there.
  • South Africa is the 2nd largest producer of fruits in the nation.
  • The largest land mammal, the elephant calls South Africa home, as does the smallest mammal in the world- the least dwarf shrew.
  • Around 900 species of birds call South Africa home.
  • South Africa is home to Kruger National Park. The park is a huge! It is nearly 500,000 acres.
  • Kruger is home to cheetah, elephants, springbok, rhinos, zebra, giraffe and many other species.
  • Kruger was established in 1898.

 

Kruger is where we will be setting up our base camp for most of this trip! We are so excited to see of the animals of this amazing spot- especially Ellie’s relatives.

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, elephants, endangered species, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hellooooo Panda!

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Hellooooo Panda!

We are meeting our last animal here in China- probably the most iconic one. The Giant Panda is close to our heart. These funny bears call just a few zoos home and we have been lucky enough to have a pair and their offspring right down the road from HQs at Zoo Atlanta. Let’s learn more about these national symbols of China.

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Giant Panda Fun Facts: 

  • Giant pandas live in bamboo forests in the mountains of China.
  • That bamboo makes up 99% of their diet. That’s right, these carnivores eat a mostly herbivore diet, with the occasional fish or protein.
  • Because bamboo is not very nutritional, pandas can eat 20-40 pounds a day.
  • They have an elongated wrist bone called a pseudo-thumb (fake thumb), that helps them hold bamboo.
  • Pandas grow up to 5 feet long and can weigh up to 100 lbs.
  • Females give birth to little pink cubs whose eyes and ears are closed when they are born.
  • Those cubs stay with their mom for about a year and a half.
  • Pandas are excellent climbers.
  • Fossils of giant pandas ancestors have been found that are 1-2 million years old.
  • They are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

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These funny bears are one of our favorites. Their unusual markings make them a favorite with many people! They have a big fan club! One of our favorite comics is all about pandas- it’s called Your Brain On Pandas! Check it out!

Categories: adventure, Animals, bears, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, mammals, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Original Panda

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

The Original Panda

We are meeting the original panda today! That’s right- the red panda was “discovered” 50 years before the giant panda. These two pandas are not related. The red panda is related to the raccoon and giant pandas are bears. It was thought that they were related for many years as they live in similar habitats and both eat bamboo.

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Red Panda Fun Facts: 

  • Red pandas can grow up to 26 inches long and weigh up to 20 pounds. Their tales can be up to 20 inches long.
  • Those tails have white rings on them.
  • These arboreal animals are mostly nocturnal.
  • Red pandas have a pseudo thumb (an elongated wrist bone) that helps them grip bamboo. These herbivores eat other things too including; eggs, fruits and nuts.
  • They are solitary animals.
  • Red pandas come together during mating season. Red panda cubs stay with their moms for about a year.
  • They are listed as Endangered by the IUCN.

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We love the red panda. We know they have many fans out there too. Unfornately they are endangered due to habitat loss. You can learn more on how to protect them from the Red Panda Network. 

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Happy Frogs!

Posted on March 20, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Happy Frogs!

It’s World Frog Day and we are so happy to share some amazing amphibians we met at The Ampbian Foundation right down the road from headquarters! This amazing organization is working to protect frogs and other amphibians and reptiles from around the world! We met some amazing frogs the day we visited, including the gopher frog who the foundation raises and reintroduces in to the wild. Make sure you check out The Amphibian Foundations website & help them out! We’re all here for the frogs!

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Good luck in the wild gopher frog!

 

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Categories: adventure, amphibians, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, frogs, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

One Neat Monkey

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

One Neat Monkey

Our first day here in China we head to the mountainous forests in the Southwest of the country to meet a really neat monkey! We’re not sure we’d call them cute, but they are awesome! Come meet the Golden snub-nosed monkey with us!

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Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Fun Facts: 

  • These monkeys live where it can snow. They tolerate colder temperatures than most non-human primates.
  • Males are larger than females (about 1/2 the size of males). They have longer hair on their backs.
  • The have flattened pushed back noses that are open nostrils.
  • They live in groups of 20-30 individuals during the cold winter. The smaller groups come together in the summer and you may fine groups of 200 individuals.
  • These herbivores eat pine needles, lichen, bamboo shoots and fruit.
  • They are highly vocal.
  • Golden snub-nosed monkeys are listed as Endangered by the IUCN.

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We enjoyed viewing these monkeys in the trees. It is amazing that these primates can tolerate such cold. Most primates live in tropical climates. Do you think they have sweaters stashed somewhere?

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, mammals, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Where Will the Next E&E Adventure Be?

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Where Will the Next E&E Adventure Be?

 

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We are off on another adventure tomorrow. Can you guess where we are going from the clues?

  • We are off to a large continent in the East.
  • This land is large with many types of habitats – from mountains, to sandy desserts to dense forests.
  • The national animal is black & white.
  • There were many dynasties in this great land.
  • The border of this country has the tallest mountain on land in the world! 

 

Can you guess where we are going? 

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Monk Seal

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Monk Seal

We hung out on the beach to meet one of Hawaii’s most endangered animals- the Hawaiian Monk Seal.  We took the SS Ellie and Edmond up to the northern islands for the week to spend some time in the reefs and among areas where there are few humans. This is where we met these special marine mammals.

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Hawaiian Monk Seal Fun Facts: 

  • These tropical seals can grow up to 7 ft long and weigh up to 600 lbs.
  • They are carnivores. They eat fish, lobsters, octopus and eels.
  • Monk seals got their name from the fold of skin that resembles a monk’s robe’s cowl. Their Hawaiian name -Ilio holo I ka uaua- means dog that runs in rough water.
  • Females are slightly larger than males.
  • They shed their hair and outer layer of skin once a year. This is called a catrostrophic molt. During this molt, they spend their days on the beach.
  • Hawaiian monk seals are the state mammal of Hawaii.
  • They are listed as Endangered by the IUCN. There around 1,500 individuals.

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We had a blast seeing these seals sunning themselves on the beach. They are just the cutest. They have some great organizations working to save them too! Check out Save Monk Seals website for more info!

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, entertainment, Environment, mammals, oceans, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

We Are Fanimaly- Whales & Hippos

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

We Are Fanimaly!

It’s Hippo Day and we are doing a We Are Fanimaly! Today we are discovering that hippos closest living relative is the whale! Whaaaaaa? You ask! That’s right they share an ancient ancestor millions of years ago and then went on very different paths!

 

  • Hippos and Whales split on the evulotionary line about 54 million years ago.
  • Whales once had feet and walked on land, before they evolved in to fins.
  • Hippos and whales have multi-chambered stomachs. They do not regurgitate their food like rumanents though. The food works it way through the chambers before going to the true stomach.
  • Marine mammals have one lobed lungs, unlike terrestrial animals who have multi-lobed lungs. Hippos share the trait of one lobed lungs with their whale relatives.
  • Hippos also have large voice boxes that are similar to whales. They are known to make clicking noises similar to some species of whales. In fact, most hippo communication takes place under water.

 

Well we bet you had no idea that hippos and whales shared some seriously neat traits! As if we need more reasons to love hippos!

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, mammals, oceans, science, Today's Post, whales, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hey Nene!

Posted on February 13, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Hey Nene!

After exploring for bats, we decided to sleep in again and go birding. Today we wanted to find the State bird of Hawaii. Off to meet a goose.

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Hawaiian Goose Fun Facts: 

  • The Hawaiian goose is also called the Nene- named after their soft call.
  • They grow up to 16 inches tall and weigh up to 6 3/4 lbs.
  • They are herbivores. They eat seeds, grasses , fruit and flowers.
  • Nenes evolved from the Canada Goose.
  • Males are slightly larger than females.
  • There were only 32 birds in 1952. With great conservation efforts, their populations have been raised to 1000 birds.
  • They are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

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We had a fun time on Maui meeting these rare species. It is with great care that they have been a success story. We hope their population continues to grow.

Categories: adventure, Animals, birds, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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