Posts Tagged With: envrionment

Large Lynx

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Large Lynx

We met a neat cat today here in Norway! There are lynx in America, but the ones that call Europe home are the biggest members of the lynx family. Come learn more about them with us.

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Eurasian Lynx Fun Facts:

  • These cats can grow up to 51 inches long and weigh up to 66 pounds.
  • These carnivores eat mammals, including small mammals and larger prey like reindeer.
  • Their back legs are slight longer than the front ones.
  • They are crepuscular- active at dusk and dawn.
  • Males occupy a large territory. There are several females living within that territory. That are usually solitary.
  • They have dense fur to keep them warm in the winter months. Longer fur grows on their paws to help them walk in snow.
  • Eurasian lynx are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

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These cats are quiet the predators. They can take down prey much bigger themselves. We love their ear tufts and big paws!

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

We’re in Norway

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

We’re in Norway

If you guessed Norway for our next adventure- you were right!! Come learn more about this amazing place with us today!

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Norway Fun Facts: 

  • The deepest lake in Europe is in Norway- lake Hornindalsvatnet.
  • Norway has the longest coastline in Europe.
  • Norway is home to the largest glacier in Europe.
  • Norway is the largest exported of salmon.
  • Norway is home to many fjords. Fjords are deep inlets of seas between cliffs.
  • The Sami are the indigenous people of Norway. They have lived their for 10,000 years. They are most known for their reindeer herding.

We are so excited to meet some animals that call Norway home! We hope you are too!

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

We Spots a Spotted Owl

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

We Spots a Spotted Owl

When people think of Africa, people think of all the big animals, but rarely do they think of owls! Well, Africa is home to many species of owls. We went looking for the Spotted Eagle and we found one! Come learn more about them with us!

spotted eagle owl

Spotted Eagle-Owl Fun Facts:

  • Spotted eagle-owls have a 3 foot wing span!
  • They have large ear tufts and bright yellow eyes.
  • Like many owls they are nocturnal.
  • These carnivores eat mammals, birds and amphibians. They are also known to eat carrion.
  • Spotted eagle-owls are known to bond for life.
  • They are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

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Seeing an owl in the wild is always a treat! These owls have a fun musical call. We could listen to them all night.

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

Hello Antelope!

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Hello Antelope!

Happy Monday and we are so excited for you to meet the animal we spotted this weekend. They have some fantastic antlers! Are you ready to meet the kudu?

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Greater Kudu Fun Facts:

  • Greater Kudu can grow up to 96 inches long and weigh up to 700 pounds.
  • Only the males have those impressive spiral horns.
  • Those horns can grow up to 3 feet long!
  • They have a crest of fur that runs down their back.
  • They live in family groups that consist of females and their offspring. The males are solitary or live in small bachelor groups.
  • These herbivores eat vegetation, fruit and grasses.
  • Greater kudu are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

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It was fun to spot some males with their spectacular antlers! Can you imagine having those attached to your head all the time?

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

Armored Lizard

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Armored Lizard

We decided we haven’t met enough lizards on our trip so far and headed out to meet one with some most interesting scales. This reptile was a definite look don’t touch kind of creature. Get ready to learn more about them.

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Giant Girdled Lizard Fun Facts: 

  • They are also known as the sungazer lizard.
  • Giant girdled lizards grow to about 7 inches long.
  • Though they live in rocky areas, they do dig their own burrows for shelter.
  • They are insectivores.
  • They live in groups.
  • They secret scents to communicate with other sungazers.
  • Giant girdled lizards are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

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We enjoyed spotting this little spiked lizard. It would be a smart predator to stay away from those scales.

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

Feeling Blue

Posted on April 12, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Feeling Blue

We are feeling blue- just kidding! We’re off to meet one regal blue bird! In fact they are the national bird of South Africa! Are you ready to learn more about the blue crane? Let’s gooooo!

blue crane

Blue Crane Fun Facts:

  • These cranes can grow up to 40 inches tall and weigh up to 11 pounds.
  • They are known for their loud honking calls.
  • These omnivores eats grasses, seeds and small invertebrates.
  • The males perform elaborate courtship dances.
  • The entire population of blue cranes call South Africa home.
  • Blue cranes are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

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These elegant but funny looking cranes are so amazing. There are several organizations that are working to protect these neat birds, including the International Crane Foundation!

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

Meet Ellie’s Cousin

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Meet Ellie’s Cousin

We are going to meet a small, rodent look a-like today. But, guess what? It’s not a rodent, it’s one of Ellie’s closest living relatives! Are you ready to go on today’s adventure?

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Cape Rock Hyrax Fun Facts: 

  • Cape Hyrax can grow up to 12 inches and weigh up to 13 pounds.
  • Their teeth, toes and skull are structured like elephants.
  • These little herbivores even have two elongated teeth like the tusks of an elephant.
  • They live in family groups of 20-80 individuals.
  • Hyrax have little glands on their backs they use to mark their territory.
  • They do have elongated noses too. Males have longer noses than females.
  • Hyrax have little suction cup like pads on their feet to help climb.
  • These little prey animals can spot a predators over 900 feet away.
  • They are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN>

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These funny little critters of course is one of our favorites! We bet you would have never guessed they shared an ancestor with elephants.

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

Doing Some Geometry

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Doing Some Geometry

We headed out today with a local tracker to find a species that is critically endangered. We did find one of these special animals and we couldn’t wait to share more about them with you!

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Geometric Tortoise Fun Facts: 

  • These tortoises grow put to 6 inches long.
  • They have a geometric, radiating pattern on their shell that help them camouflage.
  • These herbivores eat flowers, leaves and shoots.
  • Once thought to be extinct, a small population (around 2,000-3,000) was found in the west cape of the country.
  • They are thought to be aestivate (be dormant) in the summer.
  • Females are larger than males, but have shorter tails.
  • They are highly protected by the local conservation organizations and the government.

We were super excited to spot this little rare tortoise. They are shy, so we had to be very quiet and patient. We were lucky to have such a great tracker with us. We wonder who we might find tomorrow.

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

Hello Shrew

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Hello Shrew

We are off to the southern part of the country for a day trip to locate one small mammal. They are named after elephants, but we can assure you they are not elephants. Grab your gear and let’s head off on today’s adventure to meet the cape elephant shrew.

cape elephant shrew

Cape Elephant Shrew Fun Facts:

  • Shrews are distantly related to moles. They are not rodents.
  • They are also called the Cape Elephant Sengi.
  • The cape elephant shrew weighs around 50 grams.
  • These insectivores eats insects of all kinds.
  • They get their names from their long noses like look like and elephant’s trunk.
  • Their scientific name includes the word- Elephantulus.
  • They prefer dry, rocky and arid habitats.
  • They are listed as LEAST CONCERN by the IUCN.

 

What a joy it was to spot this tiny little animal. It’s not easy and it took some patience waiting in an area where they are known to hunt for insects. Sometime we forget that habitats all around the world have some amazing little animals. These forgotten creatures are important too.

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

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

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