Summer Learning Journey Day 18!

Hey bloggers, I'm back!

As usual my blog post will be about the Summer Learning Journey and today is the 18th day which means that there is only 2 days left until the Summer Learning Journey finishes. I might be posting a blog post for when I go to Australia but not sure if I will have time but anyways, here is the first activity!

There is currently a huge drive to get rid of all predators from New Zealand. Predators are animals that, in some way, damage our natural environment. Many organisations are working hard to accomplish this goal.

Click on the links below to watch videos about three of the current projects operating to make New Zealand ‘Predator Free by 2050.’

Predator Free Video #1: Cacophony Project

Predator Free Video #2: Taranaki Mounga Project

Predator Free Video #3: Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP)

On your blog, tell us which one of the videos you liked the best and why..

I think that I liked the second video the most because of the scenes and photo's in the video's. And in the video there was that mountain that didn't have any fences for predators and there are lot's of farms which needs to be protected.

Here is the second activity!

Here in New Zealand we have a native dolphin, the Māui Dolphin, that is on the verge of extinction (disappearing forever). As of this year, there are only 63 Māui dolphins left and people predict that they will be extinct by 2033. Environmentalists and activists, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), are working hard to save the dolphin because it is such a special and unique animal. To learn more about the Māui Dolphin, please follow this link. If you would like to sign a petition from the WWF encouraging the New Zealand government to take action to save the Maui Dolphin, please follow this link.

Once you have learned more about this unique dolphin, it is time for you to share your learning with us.

On your blog, post three facts that you learned about the Māui Dolphin. Then, using your imagination, create three more statements about Māui dolphins that are not true (i.e. false). Please don’t tell us which of your statements about Māui Dolphins are true and which are false. It will be the job of the students and staff who read your blog to figure it out.

Here is the last activity!

Sir David Attenborough is a famous TV presenter from England who loves nature and the natural world. He has spent his career filming documentaries about the planet and working hard to protect it. In a recent interview, Sir David was asked to reflect on all that he had learned and to imagine that he had suddenly been given the power to save 10 animals and/or plants from extinction (disappearing forever).

After thinking about the question, he listed these 10 species (animals/plants):

1. Black Lion Tamarin (pictured to the right)

2. Sumatran Rhino

3. Solenodon

4. Olm Salamander

5. Spatuletail Hummingbird

6. Darwin’s Frog

7. Sunda pangolin

8. Priam’s Birding Butterfly

9. Northern Quoll

10. Venus’s Flower Basket

Let’s imagine that you had the same power and that you could save 10 species (animals or plants) from extinction. Who would you save? If I had the choice I would probably save animals like the elephant, white tiger and rhinoceros because they are unique and have lived for centuries on earth. I would also like to save some of my favourite flowers including hydrangeas and calla lily flowers. What about you?

   

Left to right: White tiger,   Hydrangeas,   Calla Lily

On your blog, list 10 species (animals or plants) that you would protect from extinction. For each one, give a reason as to why you think it is important to protect.

1-Maui Dolphin because there is only a small amount of those species left.

2-Javan Rhinoceros because it is very close to going extinct.

3-Gorilla's because even though there is around 300 gorilla's left, their homes are getting destroyed.

4-Golden headed Languor because there are fewer than 70 left! They are very close to going extinct.

5-White Rhino because there is only 5 left! (I think?)

6-Amur Leopard because they are very close to going extinct. Currently a mere 60 members of its family survives.

7-Hawksbill Turtle because people get the turtles, and sell the shells at a high price which needs to stop!

8-Leatherback Turtle because they are going extinct because when they lay eggs, the birds come and eat them which means that the number of them will keep reducing until they are extinct.

9-Pygmy three-toed sloth are the slowest animals that they grow Algae on their back which protects them from predators but their habitats are getting destroyed.

10-White Antelope because there are only 200 specimens left.