A day at the Zoo
Join Emma the explorer on her springtime discovery and learn all about ZSL’s amazing animals
e In s id zzles
● Fun pu ● Silly jokes ● Animal quizzes ● Amazing facts ● Great prizes
! n o i t c a o t n i g Spr in Help Emma learn about the wonders of springtime with ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoo. She wants to know why the weather warms up in spring and what changes she’ll see at the Zoo. The Earth’s axis is now starting to tilt towards the sun, increasing the number of daylight hours and warming the ground, causing plants to come ‘back to life’, and animals and birds to start doing all sorts of fascinating things! Q. What is a rabbit’s favourite music? A. Hip hop!
One of three sets of ZSL London Zoo’s new Wild Things! books What would you do if you were sent a hippo in the post?! The Wild Things! series is an enchanting introduction to animals around the world, and how they survive. With spring comes Easter. It’s time for cute bunnies, fluffy chicks and, of course, an Easter egg hunt! Can you spot the colourful eggs on three pages of this activity guide? You’ll see each egg is painted with a letter. Arrange all the letters to reveal the hidden word, and go to www.zsl.org/wildthings to enter.
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The signs of springtime
below to reveal recent Can you complete the crossword in the pictures! are s activities at the Zoos? The clue
Across
are springing up at Whipsnade (9)
1.
2. Flamingos are making (5)
Down 3. Trees start turning (5) 4. Turtles are laying (4)
4 3
1
2
All change We don’t wear the same clot hes in winter as we do in spring, and neither do the Zoo animals! Can you describe the winter and spr ing differences between these creatures? 1. Black swallowtails spend emerging as
winter as chrysalids, when warm
returns. 2. Bears lose fat during 3. The fur of a stoat change
so weigh less. s from
4. Moose shed soft velvety tougher ones.
to
for bigger,
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Zoo bo r n s What else happens in spring? Lots of tiny baby animals start appearing, and there’s a lot to see in the Zoo!
Baby red pandas stay with their mother for many months. The cold winter weather here in the UK means they stay hidden until spring, when they come out for the first time.
I spy… Will you see any of these baby beasts at Wild Wild Whipsnade? Keep a look out for them on your springtime Zoo visits:
GIRAFFE CALF
Find the baby red panda Can you spot the baby red panda’s face in the forest?
L
ZEBRA FOA
LYNX KITTEN
RHINO CALF
WOLF CUB
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Q. When the chimpanzee had her baby, what did that make her brother? A. A monkey’s uncle
Did you know
When a giraffe is born it drops to the ground head first. This doesn’t hurt the calf, but it does make it take its first big breath!
Ta ke good ca re of my ba by‌ Emma is learning about being a vet in the Zoo
Did you know
As well as treating very sick animals, zoo vets make sure that baby animals and their mothers have everything they need at this stage of their life.
Frog babies are known as tadpoles, froglets or polliwogs.
Baby names Can you match these baby animals to their baby names?
Cheetah
Snake
Eel
Calf
Hatchling
Meerkat
Hippo
Marmoset
Snakeling
Infant
Turtle
Pup
Cub
Elver
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F l owe r p owe r Winter sparkles with ice, snow and Christmas lights, but spring is all about colour! At this time of year ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoo are both covered in beautiful blossoms
Spring flowers colour-in Use bright colours to complete this beautiful spring scene.
Butterfly Paradise
Spring flowers are also home to lots of amazing insects, such as butterflies! Can you spot these butterflies in ZSL London Zoo’s Butterfly Paradise?
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ATLAS MOTH
GLASSWING BUTTERFLY POSTMAN BUTTERFLY
OWL BUTTERFL Y
EAD DEATH’S-HOTH HAWKM
s d n e i r f l o o c r Ou d ow n s o u t h As we enjoy warmer weather, penguins living on the other side of the world are getting themselves ready for winter
Puzzle
Ice is beginning to cover parts of the Southern Ocean. Can you help Ricky the rockhopper penguin find a crack in the ice so he can catch a fish for his supper?
PECKISH PENGUINS Of course, the penguins at ZSL Whipsnade have no problem finding lunch… ‘You can watch the penguins at the pool at feeding time. The keeper told us lots about the fishy food they eat and even answered my questions!’
Did you know
The start of spring here in the UK means autumn is beginning on the other side of the world.
ANSWERS: Page 3: Crossword: bluebells; nests; green; eggs. Differences: butterflies/ weather; hibernation; white/brown; antlers. Page 5: Calf – hippo; hatchling – turtle; snakeling – snake; infant – marmoset; pup – meerkat; cub – cheetah; elver – eel; Mystery word: Zoo. How
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a Ve
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