Ziwira Kids September 2015

September Issue 3 2015

kids

W W W. Z I W I R A . C O M

BUILDING A GREEN FUTURE

A VISIT TO THE ZOO!

SUSTAINABLE

Do you love animals? Are you craving some fun? Then why not visit the Zoo!

GROOVY GREEN ACTIVITIES Test your brain power

EARTH BOY Let’s save the animals!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

There are many different kinds of work that you can do when you are bigger to help the environment. www.ziwira.com

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September Issue 3 2015

CONTENTS

ZIWIRA SEPTEMBER 2015

34

08 08

14

36

42

06 Back To School 08 When I Grow Up 14 Immune System 18 Climate Change 20 Saving Energy 24 Earth Boy & Pets 28 Wildlife 36 Local Zoo’s

42 Entertainment

44 Story Time 46 Activities

50 Definitions 52 Green Love

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BUILDING A GREEN FUTURE

SEPTEMBER 2015 Publisher Ziwira CEO and Founder Adam Merza adam@ziwira.com Editorial Saba Khan

DEAR FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, Yes, you CAN be the Earth’s friend! This wonderful Earth has given us so much, like fresh water, air and juicy fruits, so it’s only fair that we are kind in return and give it much love and care.

saba.khan@ziwira.com Imran Khan imran.khan@ziwira.com Nasreen Rasool nasreen.rasool@ziwira.com Zane Small zane.small@ziwira.com Marketing Nadir Khan nadir.khan@ziwira.com +971 56 7481747 Design Asif Habib asif.habib@ziwira.com Fahad Balabhai fahad@ziwira.com Head Office Techno Hub Building, Office No. 161-162, PO Box No. 341171, Dubai Silicon Oasis, UAE. USA Office Ziwira Inc. 445 Park Avenue 9th Floor New York City

That’s why this month, we are going to show you all the amazing things you can do to help the Earth when you grow up. Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?

How about a pilot, a scientist or an artist? You can use all your special talents, whether it’s painting, singing, fixing things, or cooking, to do something good for the environment. Read pg 08 to find out more.

You can also learn some exciting new things like how to be green at school (pg 06), why we should never leave lights on (pg 20) and all about climate change (pg 18). Would you like to see a hedgehog or a baby sloth? We take you on a trip to the zoo and discover some funny, adorable animals. Then it’s time to give your body and brain some exercise. Try out our exercise ideas such as the hula hoop, and see if you can do the quiz and other fun activities to test how super brainy you are (pg 46) Before you go to bed, ask Mum or Dad to read you the story about the lions and the trees on pg 44. And finally, remember to tell all your friends and family about the wonderful new things you have learned.

Happy reading!

New York 10022 United States of America Canada Office Ziwira Inc. Toronto, Canada

© Copyright 2015 Ziwira. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication can be reproduced in

Nasreen Rasool E D I T O R @ZIWIRA

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September Issue 3 2015

CATEGORY

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September Issue 3 2015

SCHOOL BUZZ

Be Green at School Going back to school after the holidays can be awesome or awful! How do you feel about going back to school?

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HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO ENJOY SCHOOL AND ALSO BE KIND TO THE ENVIRONMENT Go to bed nice and early so you can wake up feeling fresh in the morning. A sleepy mind can’t learn much and if you are tired, you will be grumpy all day.

Eat a healthy breakfast of organic cereal or oats and some fruit juice, and remember to have your vitamins!

Ask mum to pack a delicious, healthy lunch to give you plenty of energy.

Lunch Box Ideas: Sandwich or bagel with cheese, peanut butter or turkey + fruit + carrot or cucumber sticks + nuts + yoghurt + crackers or popcorn + organic milk or water.

Use a reusable lunch box instead of plastic or paper bags for less waste.

Don’t litter on the playground. Keep your empty plastic packets in a bag for recycling or throw it safely in the bin so animals don’t choke on it.

Write on both sides of the page and try your best not to waste paper. If your school has a recycling bin, toss old paper in there. If not, ask your teacher to get a recycling bin.

Tell your friends about the amazing creatures you saw at the beach or how you helped mum to recycle during your summer holiday.

Cover your books with all your favorite pictures from old magazines.

Keep your school clothes and stationery clean so mum doesn’t have to buy new ones all the time. The more we buy, the more we harm the earth.

If your school is close to home, why not walk or cycle instead of using the car?

This is a good form of exercise, and it keeps the air nice and clean.

Remember, learning is fun! www.ziwira.com

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COVER STORY

I n Whe . . . p u w o r g What do you want to be when you grow up? There are many different kinds of work that you can do when you are bigger to help the environment. You can be anything you dream to be. Just keep reading, learning and asking lots and lots of questions! Remember, that whatever work you do, it’s important to use your mind and your body to do something good, like caring for the earth and helping others to save it.

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r e m r a F ic n a g r O Farmers grow fruits and vegetables and look after cows, sheep and chickens so they are healthy enough for people to eat. But many farmers use pesticides on their crops to keep the bugs away.

These chemicals are bad for people and bad for the environment. If you are an organic farmer, you can make sure that all the food that goes from the farm to the supermarket is healthy and safe from chemicals.

Florist A florist is a person who owns a flower shop. She grows beautiful flowers, looks after them and sells them to other people to make their home look and smell lovely.

t s i g o l o o Z A zoologist works in the zoo and looks after all the animals, making sure they are healthy, clean and happy too.

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CATEGORY

Scientist A scientist knows all about nature, the world and how things work. You could look into a microscope and see how the leaves make oxygen. You could help us to find better ways to care for the earth and what chemicals are dangerous.

Chef A chef is someone who cooks food all day long! You must know everything there is to know about each different kind of food to be a chef. You must know what vegetables go well together, what spices to use, and how to make delicious treats. You could be an ecofriendly chef, and use only organic, sustainable and healthy ingredients when you cook. Yummy!

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En gi ne er If you are an engineer, you will design and build engines and machines. An engineer can help us to use the sunlight for energy or to build eco-friendly cars so that we don’t have to burn oil and pollute the air.

Artist An artist loves to draw and paint and make things that are beautiful to look at. You could paint pictures of the earth and show other people how important it is to appreciate nature.

Architect This is a person who designs buildings.

If you are an architect you can design buildings that use sunlight and don’t waste water. www.ziwira.com

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CATEGORY

Vet A vet is a doctor for animals.

When dogs, cats, or other pets are sick or hurt they go to the Vet for some medicine that helps them to feel better.

Fashion designer This a fun job. A fashion designer makes clothing. So if you are a green fashion designer you can make clothes, shoes and jewelry that you like, and that don’t harm the environment.

You can use fabrics that are kind to nature or cut up old clothing and make brand new ones.

t n e d i s e r P Or you could be the president and change the world! The president is the person who makes the rules in each different country. When you are the president you can tell all the people in your country to save water and save the animals. Wouldn’t that be great?

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September Issue 3 2015

DISCOVER

The Body’s Immune System Hey kids, did you know that your body has its very own little factory inside it? It’s called your immune system. The immune system works hard to protect your body from germs and illness.

When someone at the playground gets hurt and starts to cry, all the people around him run towards him and try to help him feel better. The same thing happens in your body.

If you get sick or hurt, all the different parts work together to make your body better again. Isn’t that amazing!

The immune system is made up of a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body. White blood cells are part of this defense system. Their job is to fight germs.

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This is how you know your immune system is working

Swelling If you have a sore throat the glands on the side of your neck become swollen, and if you fall and hit your head, you get a little bump. This bump is actually a good thing. It means the white blood cells are all going to the place that is infected to help make it better.

Fever When you get sick, you may have noticed that you get a fever. Your body gets really hot. This is nothing to be afraid of. Your immune system knows that germs don’t like hot places, so it heats up to make the germs really uncomfortable so they will leave your body. Bye-bye germs!

Scab Have you ever had a scratch or cut on your skin?

It’s really painful! But the good news is that your skin can heal itself. After some time you will see some hard crusty skin growing over the cut. This is called a scab and you should never touch it or peel it off. The scab stops any germs from going under the skin, and when it falls off, you will see the new skin that has grown back all on its own.

Now we know that our bodies can heal themselves, just like magic! But we still need to help our bodies to do this. If we eat healthy foods and get enough rest and exercise, our immune system can work better. If the body doesn’t have the right foods and energy, the immune system will be weak, and won’t be able to make you better if you get sick. www.ziwira.com

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Let’s get moving!

CATEGORY

Here are some fun exercises you can do to keep your body active and healthy. Get your heart beating and your blood flowing throughout your body. If you do a little exercise every day, you will feel happy, healthy and strong!

Hula Hoops These are really fun and a great way to get your body moving. Swirl the hula hoop around your waist and try not to let it fall!

Jumping Jacks Jump your legs and arms out at the same time, and then jump them back in with your feet together and arms up above your head with your hands clasped together. Do this ten times and then stop to catch your breath.

Dance Put on some happy music and dance to the beat. You can do whatever you want, let your whole body move in whatever way it wants to go. You can dance like a robot or be a floppy spaghetti, as long as you are moving, breathing and having fun!

Stretch Stretching is very important so that you don’t hurt your muscles. Keep them soft by gently stretching your neck, arms, legs and even your fingers and toes. Breathe in and out slowly and feel the oxygen filling up in your lungs. And remember to drink lots of water.

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September Issue 3 2015

LEARN

WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?

Our planet is changing. The temperature of the air, the land and the water is becoming hotter. This is a serious problem because it is harming many people, plants and other living creatures on the Earth. If we don’t stop this problem now, it could get really

What is climate?

The global climate is how the earth looks and feels over a long period of time. It is different to weather. Weather describes the conditions of one day in one place. For example, today is a rainy day or a sunny day. But if you live in a desert, the climate is mostly dry. Climate is the big picture.

It is the pattern of temperatures, rainfall, wind and other conditions over a long time.

Scientists are very worried, because the Earth’s climate is changing very fast. The whole planet is becoming hotter and hotter because there are too many poisonous gases in the air that trap the heat from the sun.

How can we see climate change?

Strange things are happening in the world because of climate change. In many countries there is drought and the water is all dried up. Some countries have huge storms like hurricanes or earthquakes. This is all part of nature, but with climate change, it is getting much worse.

There are stronger winds and the sun is so hot in some places that people and animals cannot survive. Ice caps in the Antarctic are melting. It’s even snowing in some places where it’s not supposed to snow.

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Nature is confused Earth has its own control system. The oceans, the land, the air, the plants and animals, and the energy from the sun all affect each other to make everything work in harmony. If something changes in one place, the changes will be felt in other places too.

But with human beings polluting the air, the system is upset and things are not working the way they should. Our planet is changing because the Earth’s air, water, and land are all linked to the climate.

Many insects have to ďŹ nd new homes because their old homes have become too hot, or their favorite plants are not growing anymore. Animals in the ocean are also confused because the water is getting hotter. We are all one big family. If one thing goes wrong, we are all affected.

The only way to stop climate change is to stop pollution. We have to save water, not waste it.

Plant trees, not cut them down. And we have to stop buying so many things so the factories that make them won’t burn any more harmful gases.

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September Issue 3 2015

ALL ABOUT

LEARN

POWER

It’s easy to take power for granted.

Every day you wake up, turn the light on, turn the television on and take a hot shower - the list could go on forever!

You may not think about it, but power isn’t endless. Let’s explore the different ways that YOU can help to save power and be an environmental champion!

WE WANT YOU TO START SAVING POWER. WHY? LET’S FIND OUT!

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FACT BOX Many of us never think about where electricity comes from. This makes it very easy to take it for granted, without realizing the cost to the environment. All of the energy we use has an impact on the environment. Even energy made from natural resources can be bad. For example, burning fossil fuels such as coal releases carbon emissions that cause global warming. Yikes! www.ziwira.com

WHAT IS FOSSIL FUEL? Fossil fuel is formed by plants from millions of years ago that died and slowly got pushed into the ground. The energy from those plants and living things is stored and compacted in the ground, which eventually becomes coal and gas. That is what we use to power our cars!

IF FOSSIL FUELS ARE SO BAD – WHY DO WE USE THEM? Burning fossil fuels is a very easy way to make energy, but they are a non-renewable resource. This means that we can’t make anymore and at some point, the very last chunk of coal will be dug from the earth and the last drop of oil will be pumped from the earth.

All of our vehicles run on gasoline, which is a fossil fuel, and it is very expensive to change all of our cars to run on something else. But we have to! Not only are fossil fuels going to run out, they are also bad for the environment. Instead, people should drive battery-power cars.

Remember kids, don’t use power when you don’t need to. By saving power you can save the environment.

Huff, puff, dirty smelly air from the car’s exhaust pipe!

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LEARN

HOW CAN YOU SAVE POWER AT HOME? Turn off lights and electronics when you leave a room.

Open your blinds or curtains on sunny days instead of turning on lights.

Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.

Don’t take long, hot showers.

Don’t leave the fridge door open.

Convince your parents to drive an electric car or walk whenever you can.

FACT BOX

The oil we use to power our cars comes from plants and animals that lived on earth when dinosaurs ruled. In fact, your mum and dad could be powering their cars with what was once a T-Rex! Fossil fuels are a precious resource, don’t let them run out!

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES? There are plenty of alternatives to burning fossil fuels for energy. Many of them are used today, but are not as common as burning fossil fuels. You could be the first to stop burning fossil fuels. Let’s check out some different ways of making energy so we can all have a cleaner earth.

SOLAR ENERGY Solar power comes from sunlight, by using solar panels. These are large flat panels that turn sunlight into power. Cool huh? The sun is very powerful!

It is used in places where they have lots of sunlight. Solar energy is not only sustainable, it is renewable and this means that we will never run out of it.

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WIND ENERGY Wind power comes from the power of air movement – the same way you use a whistle! Wind power is renewable, clean, produces no greenhouse gas emissions, and uses little land. Wind farms are made of many individual wind turbines (those tall poles in the picture).

HYDRO ENERGY Hydro energy comes from the power of flowing water which is very strong! Think about how strong waves are at the beach. It is a clean source of energy, meaning it won’t pollute the air like fossil fuels. Hydroelectric power can be used anywhere in the world that has water!

FACT BOX

BIOMASS ENERGY This one is a little more complicated, so be sure to pay attention! Biomass is organic matter (stuff from a living thing like a plant) that has stored energy because of photosynthesis (how plants feed from the sun). It doesn’t cost a lot of money and is kind to the environment. We can use biofuel instead of fossil fuels like coal - it is much more eco-friendly!

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Biodiesel is a form of biofuel. It can be used to power a vehicle instead of using petrol. You might not believe it, but biodiesel can be made from used cooking oil!

Just like the oil your mum uses to cook in the kitchen! So don’t throw cooking oil away, give it to people who make biofuel.

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EARTH BOY

Let’s save the animals!

Hello, superheroes, I’m Earth Boy and today I want to save the animals.

Meet my friends, Kala and Kiera. They didn’t have a home and were very sad. One day someone saw this photo of them hugging each other and adopted them. Now they have a home and they are safe and happy.

Many other animals out there like Kala and Keira don’t have a home. They stay in an animal shelter, waiting for some kind people to find them and take care of them.

You can help save them by adopting a pet. Visit an animal shelter in your neighborhood to see all the animals who need a home.

Before you adopt a pet, you must make sure that you can care for it. Looking after a pet is a BIG responsibility. They are fun to play with, but they also need lots of care and love - just like you!

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HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR PET Safety

Exercise Fresh air and exercise are very important for your pet. Dogs are very active and need to walk and run outside every day. Keep your dog on a leash or take him to a safe park so he doesn’t get hit by a car. For smaller animals you can give them toys to play with or play a game with them and have fun too.

Feeding

Before you bring your pet home, check that there is nothing dangerous in the house like plugs or wires or sharp toys that he can choke on. Never leave your pet alone in the car with all the windows closed. He will have no air to breath and will suffocate.

Love Most importantly, give your pet lots of love and treat him like part of the family. Pets love attention, so talk to them, give them special treats and cuddly hugs, and see how much they will love you in return.

Shelter If your pet is quite big and is outdoors most of the time, make sure he has a shelter to protect him from rain, cold, hot sun and other wild animals.

Most animals need food and water once or twice a day. Give them healthy food and keep their eating area clean and comfortable. Never give your pet junk food or candy.

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EARTH BOY CATEGORY

Potty This is the yucky part of having a pet, but all animals need to go to the potty. Train them to use a special area for this, cats can have a litter box and dogs can have a special place outside. A grown up can help you clean out the mess so it doesn’t smell!

Training It’s also important to teach your pet good manners and behavior such as no biting! Dogs are very smart and can even learn to protect you from danger. There will be times when they are naughty, but be patient and give them lots of love.

Health You will need to take your pet to the Vet for regular checkups. If your pet is sick, never give him human medicine, it can be poisonous.

Cleaning Clean your pet regularly to avoid bugs and germs.

Also clean his cage, tank or basket.

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September Issue 3 2015

WILDLIFE

Endangered Creatures of the Desert It’s time to save our sand-loving friends!

The United Arab Emirates is home to some wickedly wonderful creatures! But as we have mentioned before, many awesome animals are slowly becoming extinct, even in the UAE!

WHY? Hunting: Some cruel people hunt animals for their fur or as sport.

Habitat Loss: Many animals lose their homes because of people taking over their land.

Climate Change: The world is becoming hotter, so animals in the desert cannot survive!

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WE HAVE TO SAVE THEM! The UAE is situated in a hot desert. It’s very hot, especially during summer! But even in this heat, there are some curious animals who call the desert home. They deserve to live here just as much as we do. We sent Earth Boy to meet some of these sand-loving creatures, and find out why they are becoming extinct.

Meet the Magnificent

Arabian Oryx Status: Vulnerable Estimated Over 1,000 numbers left:

Locations:

Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and UAE

Threats: Because of hunting, the Arabian Oryx can no longer be found in the wild. Some zoos have helped to save them, but many of them are being pushed out of their homes by people searching for oil in the desert.

Conservation Efforts:

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The Arabian Oryx would not be around today if it weren’t for relocation efforts. How sad would that be!? Saudi Arabia has created large fenced reserves to protect them. The World Wildlife Fund, Phoenix Zoo, and Fauna and Flora International also help the Arabian Oryx.

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Earth Boy: That’s incredible! Thanks for sharing that with us Mr. Oryx. I don’t like to bring this up, but evidence suggests that Arabian Oryx are an endangered species. How do you feel about that?

CATEGORY

Earth Boy keeps it real with Mr. Oryx Earth Boy met with Mr. Oryx, a magnificent Arabian Oryx in Saudi Arabia.

Earth Boy had some questions to ask him about the threats that he faces today.

Earth Boy: Mr. Oryx, I am so pleased that you agreed to meet with me today. It’s a shame you don’t have air-conditioning out here in desert! Its 50 degrees Celsius!

Mr. Oryx: It makes me ever so sad, Earth Boy. I just don’t understand why humans want to hunt us. We live in the vast desert where we keep to ourselves.

We just want to be friends with humans.

I am very grateful that some kind humans have saved us from extinction by providing safe areas for us to live.

Earth Boy: I’m so sorry to hear that, Mr. Oryx! It breaks my heart that some humans have hunted your ancestors in the past. We will do all we can to ensure your safety. Losing your species would be an unthinkable tragedy.

Mr. Oryx: Hello Earth Boy! It’s lovely to meet you too. I love the heat. In fact, my white coloring is an adaptation to the intense solar heat of the deserts and gravel plains of the Middle East, where I call home. Sunlight is reflected from my fur, keeping me cooler even in the full glare of noon.

Earth Boy: Wow! That’s amazing! What other cool stuff can you share about yourself?

Mr. Oryx: I stand about 1 meter high, and weigh 120 kilograms. My upright horns can reach a length of 50 to 75 centimeters!

Both our males and females have horns, and even our younglings have small horns which look like spikes. I am 18-years-old, which is a good age for an Arabian Oryx!

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LET’S HELP OUR DESERT PALS The Arabian Oryx isn’t the only animal in the desert that is endangered. There are other species out there – species that you have probably never heard of – that are threatened by hunting, habitat loss, and climate change.

Goitered Gazelle Status: Vulnerable Estimated numbers left: Less than 10,000 Locations: Middle East and North Asia Threats:

Recent loss of habitat has limited where gazelle’s can live. In Afghanistan, the gazelle’s range used to include the western and southwestern regions of the country, but by the late 1970s the species had been reduced to a small area of this range. Hunting is also a threat.

Conservation Efforts: The gazelle is protected in most countries. They have been reintroduced to some areas (for example Al Talila, 30 km south of Palmyra in Syria), and reintroduction is happening in Georgia.

Egyptian Vulture Status:

Vulnerable

Estimated numbers left: Between 10,000 to 100,000 (declining rapidly) Locations: Breeding ranges from southern Europe to northern Africa, to western and southern Asia Threats: Egyptian Vultures are dying out because of poison being entered into the food chain where they live – for example lead poisoning from gun shots, electrocution by power lines, disease, and hunting.

Conservation Efforts: Breeding Egyptian Vultures in captivity (like zoos) has helped the population. The Vulture Conservation Foundation is one organization that helps vultures.

Vultures require large natural areas of habitat, which is becoming difficult to find because humans aren’t good at sharing.

“BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE” www.ziwira.com

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WILDLIFE

S G O H E HEDGEHOGS HEDG September Issue 3 2015

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Hedgehogs are really cute, but prickly too!

Don’t you love these cute hedgehogs? But be careful! They have spiky spines on their outer body called quills. When hedgehogs are scared, they roll up into a tight ball, with the spikes pointing out. They are not really dangerous animals, they just use the quills to scare away the enemies.

There are about 5,000 to 6,500 quills on each hedgehog, and these are strong on the outer surface, but filled with air on the inside. If one quill falls off, a new one grows back in its place.

Hedgehogs sleep for most of the daytime under the cover of a bush, grass, rock or in a hole in the ground. They look for food at night.

Hedgehogs have a long snout that they use to look for food in the ground or under hedges. That’s where they get their name from!

Sounds that Hedgehogs make are: grunts, snuffles and squeals, but they are usually quiet animals.

They are also omnivores. This means they eat insects, snails, frogs, snakes, and bird eggs, but they also like fruit and plants like mushrooms, grass roots, berries, melons and watermelons.

Hedgehogs are found mainly in Europe, Africa, Asia and New Zealand.

In some parts of Europe, wild hedgehogs are endangered and you are not allowed to keep them as pets.

They have weak eyesight but a strong sense of smell and hearing.

Hedgehogs are mammals and have been on the earth for millions of years.

They are small but very active. They also they don’t have a lot of friends, are mostly shy, and like to live alone.

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WILDLIFE

Nature is truly amazing. All the more reason to love and protect it. Here are some strange but awesome animal and insect friends.

SLEEPY SLOTH

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This baby sloth was born in the London Zoo in August and was named Edward. Isn’t he cute?

If you have a friend who is very slow, he may be like this animal – a sleepy sloth!

The sloth is a very slow, sleepy animal. That’s because it eats leaves which don’t give it much energy and its stomach takes a really long time to digest the leaves.

Sloths spend most of their time hanging upside down in the trees and hold on with their claws. They sleep for 10 -15 hours each day and hardly move! They live in the tropical rainforests of South and Central America. So if humans cut down all the trees, the sloth won’t have a home.

Some sloths have two toes and some have three toes. Their bodies are very hairy and are even home to other small creatures like moths, beetles and cockroaches. The sloth has a really long tongue, which he uses to reach leaves that are far away.

Some sloths have become extinct because of human hunting and climate change. It doesn’t matter how slow you are, every creature is special in its own way.

PEACOCK SPIDER Scientists recently discovered this new species of peacock spider. It has a bright blue face and some people believe it’s the world’s cutest spider.

Would you agree?

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BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES Have you ever wondered how a caterpillar turns into butterfly?

The butterfly’s life begins as a tiny egg on a leaf.

When he is finished growing, the caterpillar curls up into a cocoon and waits to turn into something special.

Can you guess what it is?

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A butterfly! A bright, colorful butterfly comes out of the cocoon and can now fly and be free.

Did you know that there are 24000 different kinds of butterflies? They have long tube-like mouths so they can drink the nectar from flowers. Some butterflies can even taste with their feet so they know if they have landed on a good leaf or not.

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2 Out comes a caterpillar who grows… and grows… till he his long and chubby! His job is to eat a lot, so if you see leaves with holes in them, it’s because Mr Caterpillar has been munching away.

As he grows, he sheds his old skin and grows a new one. www.ziwira.com

DID YOU KNOW?

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Monarch butterflies are endangered because farmers are cutting down their favorite plant – the milkweed. You can save them by planting some milkweed in your garden.

September Issue 3 2015

DISCOVER

A ViSiT To ThE

ZoO! September Issue 3 2015

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Do you love animals? Are you craving some fun?

Then why not visit the Zoo! Don’t let the searing summer heat get you down! What you need is something to take your mind off it. One of the fun ways that you can enjoy the outdoors is by visiting the local zoo. Visiting the zoo is great, because it is a good way to appreciate the amazing wildlife we share our world with. Let’s check ‘em out!

DuBaI ZoO Established: 1967, by a Dubai resident called Otto J. Bulart, when H. H. Sheikh Rashid bin Maktoum, the late Ruler of Dubai, allowed him to build a zoo on a piece of land in Jumeirah.

Background: During the first couple of years, the Dubai Zoo only had a few animals like big cats, monkeys and hoofed-animals. There was also a small aquarium with some fishes and reptiles, but it was later rebuilt and more animals were introduced.

Entrance Fees: 2 Dirhams for each person. Children under 2 years are free of charge.

Species: The number of the animals in the zoo is 118 species, while the total number is 984. The number of the group according to their species is listed below:

Mammals

Birds

Reptiles

Type

43

52

23

Number

160

513

311

WHAT IS A MAMMAL? You and I are mammals.

Mammals are warm blooded animals that have hair or fur (like the hair on your head.)

Mammals give birth to live young.

WHAT IS A REPTILE? Reptiles (like crocodiles and snakes) are cold blooded animals. They most often have dry scaly skin, and lay eggs instead of giving birth.

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September Issue 3 2015

DISCOVER

BaBoOn

PuMa

WhAt CaN YoU ExPeCt To SeE At DuBaI ZoO?

FeNnEc FoX

JaGuAr

ChImPaNzEe LiOn GiRaFfE

HyEnA

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GoRiLlA

ArAbIaN WoLf www.ziwira.com

GeT ExCiTeD! ThE ZoO Is On ThE MoVe!

Animals deserve our respect.

They need to feel comfortable and happy.

There is not enough space to fit all of the awesome new animals coming to Dubai Zoo. Therefore, the Dubai Municipality has decided to create a new zoo – the Dubai Safari Park – which is going to open in 2016. Get excited!!

Location: Al Warqa’a area.

What to expect: Around 1,000 animals. They are transforming the site from a landfill for construction waste into a zoo! You can also visit a dark cave designed to display nocturnal animals by using 3D techniques. How cool is that!?

SOLAR POWER! Remember when we mentioned solar power? Because of the park’s wide open location, solar energy will be used to generate electricity to run the water system, cars, and other facilities. The park will also recycle water.

Good stuff! www.ziwira.com

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September Issue 3 2015

DISCOVER

Al AiN ZoO Al Ain is just one and a half hours from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Al Ain Zoo is a great place to go to learn about wildlife and sustainability through fun, interactive educational programs.

PARROT SHOW Check out the only parrot show in the UAE at Al Ain Zoo! Watch these colorful birds perform a variety of behaviors to show how smart they are, how beautifully they fly and how they have fun with their trainers.

Visit the Children’s Zoo Enjoy the lush green landscape where you can feed birds, pat a Giant Tortoise, or ride a camel! Or how about riding a pony or feeding sheep and goats? Or just enjoying being close to animals! Have fun, and learn about how animals live, what they eat, and how we can’t live without them!

PLAN YOUR TRIP! September Issue 3 2015

OCTOBER TO APRIL:

SUMMER AND RAMADAN:

Sat to Wed: 9:00am – 8:00pm Thu and Fri: 9:00am – 9:00pm

May to September: 4:00pm – 1:00pm

ADULT: AED 20 | 40

CHILDREN AGED 3-12: AED 10

CHILDREN UNDER 3: Free www.ziwira.com

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September Issue 3 2015

ENTERTAINMENT

CHECK IT OUT! Movie:

Monkey Kingdom

ays lw a , y e n s i D der of n u o F e h t , sney i y e D . n e s i f i l D d t l l i a w W re and u t a n r o f the n o n i i s s s a e i p v a o d m a h esome w a e m o key s n d o e t M a . e n r e c z o s r a h o and F m e N g n i ture d a n i n F y e e n k s i l i t D s a y p movie b w e n a e of c s i n a t r m o o p d g m i n i K with the u o y s t c that e s n g n n i o c h t e r e t e r a h h t mily – t a f d n a e f i l d l ant. t r o p m nature, wi i e r e felt w Walt Disney September Issue 3 2015

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Book: What Pet Should I Get? See what happens when a brother and sister visit a pet store.

There is so much to choose from, they don’t know which one to get. Read about all the different animals, and find out how they eventually make a decision. Which pet do you think they will get? Which pet would you like? This is a great book by Dr. Seuss. You may even be able to read it by yourself.

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September Issue 3 2015

STORY TIME

The Trees & the Lions Here is a short story that will make you think twice about the importance of wildlife, and how all living things are connected.

Think about this while you read. It will make you understand how important it is to appreciate nature.

Far away from a kingdom there was a huge jungle. In that jungle, there were thousands of trees. Among them two of the trees were very good friends. They stood side by side. The same jungle was the home of many lions. Those lions used to kill other animals living in that jungle and eat them. The carcasses of the dead animals used to stink and a foul smell would hang in the air. The whole atmosphere was bad to live in.

One day, the two trees, who were friends, were talking. The first tree said, “These lions are polluting our jungle. We have to save our jungle from them. They must be driven out of this jungle.”

“Yes,” agreed the other tree.

A wise old tree, who was listening to the friends said, “They might be polluting the air. But these wild creatures are keeping us safe from woodcutters.

No woodcutter will dare to come into the forest which has lions.”

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But this advice did not go into the minds of the trees. The two friends decided to frighten the animals away. That evening, the two trees started shaking violently. “We will frighten the lions away. They will be so terrified that they will leave this jungle and never come back into this jungle,” said the two friends and laughed aloud.

The whole forest echoed with their laughter. “Do not do that,” shouted the wise tree.

But the two friends did not listen. They began moving in the wind and making eerie noises. All the other wild animals in the forest were scared, seeing the two trees and the sounds they were creating.

“There is something happening in the forest. Let us run away,” they said. All the animals fled the jungle.

The two friends were happy. “Ha! Now we can enjoy some fresh air,” they said.

But their joy was short-lived. One day a woodcutter came to the forest and started felling the trees. “Now I am not afraid of the ferocious lions,” he muttered to himself. Soon there were more wood cutters. Seeing this, the wise tree said, “Now all of us will be doomed.” The two friends cried out, “How foolish we have been! We should have listened to the wise tree.”

A little later the two tree friends were brought down by the wood cutter’s axe.

The Trees and the Lions needed each other more than they knew.

Day by day, more and more trees were destroyed by many woodcutters.

(Anonymous source)

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September Issue 3 2015

GROOVY GREEN ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES

SAVING POWER WORD FIND Kids! We need your help!

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Saving power is very serious, and it also involves some seriously sophisticated words! Can you help us find the hidden words in this SAVING POWER WORD FIND?

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Answers: CONSERVE, ELECTRICITY, SOLAR, POWER, WIND, HYDRO, BATTERY September Issue 3 2015

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CAN YOU SPOT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TIGERS FROM TOP LEFT TO BOTTOM RIGHT: Sumatran Tiger, Amur Tiger, Bengal Tiger, Indochinese Tiger, South China Tiger, and Malayan Tiger.

We don’t blame you if you couldn’t figure it out! These tigers all look the same, but are actually different subspecies of tiger, meaning they are slightly different and have different homes.

Tigers are beautiful creatures that are threatened because of hunting and loss of habitat.

Wild tigers are becoming extinct. We have lost 97% of wild tigers in just over a century (100 years). As few as 3,200 tigers exist in the wild today.

Sumatran Tigers are the smallest surviving tiger species. They have heavy black stripes on their orange coats. They are protected by law in Indonesia, but they are losing their habitat and prey fast, due to poaching.

Amur Tigers were once found throughout eastern Russia, northern China, and Korea. They were almost extinct, with only 40 of them left in the wild. Thankfully, they were saved when Russia became the first country in the world to grant the tiger full protection.

Bengal Tigers are found in India with smaller populations in Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar. It is the most common of all tigers, with fewer than 2,500 left in the wild. Some of them are protected in India’s tiger reserves, but poaching is still a problem.

Indochinese Tigers are found in Indonesia and China. The region has the largest combined area of tiger habitat in the world—equal to the size of France. However, human development, such as road construction, is taking away their homes. Due to decades of poaching, many of the landscapes of this region have no tigers left in them.

South China Tiger populations were estimated at 4000 in the early 1950s. In the next few decades, thousands hunted as pests and killed. The Chinese government banned hunting in 1979. By 1996 the population was estimated to be just 30-80 individuals.

Malayan Tigers number around 500 and were thought to be Indochinese Tigers until DNA testing in 2004 showed it to be a separate subspecies. Malayan Tigers are found only on the Malay Peninsula and in the southern tip of Thailand. www.ziwira.com

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September Issue 3 2015

ACTIVITIES

A

NAME THESE TYPES OF POWER

B

Now that you’ve read about power and the importance of conserving it, let’s put your skills to the test. Can you name these different types of generating power? There’s a tricky one here that we haven’t mentioned (check the answers if you can’t figure it out!)

C D Answers: A: Hydro Power, B: Solar Power, C: Wind Power, D: Nuclear Power

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QUIZ TIME! If you are reading this magazine, then you have already taken the first step to caring for the environment. We are proud of you! Awareness is very important – your parents will agree! Let’s put your knowledge to the test.

HOW MUCH DO YOU REMEMBER?

1

Where does solar power come from?

2

Are Goitered Gazelle’s found in Afghanistan, Brazil, or Russia?

3

Was Dubai Zoo built in 1967, 1977, or 1987?

4

Do reptiles lay eggs, or give birth?

5

What must you remember when looking after your pet?

6

Do germs like heat or cold?

7

What do hedgehogs do when they are scared?

8

Name one example of climate change?

Word Jumble We’ve introduced you to a lot of new words in this Issue!

Let’s see if you can unjumble some of them.

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I C

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T Y

S A L O R A R S

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B A A N O X Y R

S F O I

L F E L U

H R D Y O P E W O R Answers: Electricity, Solar, Arabian Oryx, Fossil Fuel, Hydro Power www.ziwira.com

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September Issue 3 2015

CATEGORY DEFINITIONS

These definitions will help you to understand some of the big words used in this magazine. Learn them and you can sound super-duper intelligent!

Vulnerable – Someone or something that is easily hurt or harmed.

Extinct – Doesnʻt exist, or is not found anywhere on the earth anymore.

Mammal – A type of animal that feeds milk to its young and usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin. E.g. Human beings, dogs, and cats are all mammals.

Climate change – The change of weather conditions over time due to pollution in the air. E.g. the Earth is getting hotter, oceans are getting warmer, and storms are stronger.

Conservation – Protection of animals and nature, or using water and trees carefully so

they are not wasted.

Species – A group of animals or plants that are similar. For example, there are many different types of butterflies, but some of them are the same in their own special way. That is a species.

Photosynthesis - The process by which a green plant turns water and carbon dioxide into food when the plant is exposed to light.

Organic Matter – Organic matter is made up of old plants and animals and their waste that have broken up

naturally into tiny pieces. It is rich in nutrients and good for the soil.

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September Issue 3 2015

PARENTS & TEACHERS

Green Love

A note for parents and teachers

Children are natural scientists from the day they are born. They are always curious and observing things around them. Society has them hooked on entertainment, but they would actually prefer to get their hands dirty and discover insects in the garden - if we would just let them.

As a parent and educator it’s so important to remember the bigger picture. The lessons we teach today and the examples we set now, are preparing them for the people they will become. What really counts is not how we micro-manage them, but how they think and behave when we are not around.

That’s why we have chosen to focus on growing up in this issue. Who will our children be when they grow up and how will they live in this world of temptation and challenges when one day we are not there? Simple things like asking them not to waste their dinner or not to leave the tap open or throw a wrapper on the floor will hopefully breed good qualities of mindfulness in them as adults. Whether they dream of becoming a doctor or an artist, let’s help them realize that they should use their knowledge and talents to save the planet, it whatever way possible.

Children are so important for the future of this earth and generations to come. If we raise them to be aware that natural resources are not endless, eco-friendly living will become second nature to them when they grow up, not a difficult lifestyle change like it is for us! It’s so amazing to see children as young as three years old tossing a plastic bottle into the plastic bin and not the paper bin – recycling has already become the norm to some of our young heroes, and this is great.

This magazine doesn’t have to be completed in one sitting. Do a few pages each day, and let them try the activities and exercises. Use the Definitions Page to explain some of the difficult concepts in an easy-to-understand way. If you feel your child is a bit young to understand a particular page, move on and come back to it another time. There is something for everyone. If they want to flip through to see all the pictures, that also fine. Let them talk about what they see and what they already know about each topic, then use the text to build on this and get a conversation going.

And keep the conversation going even after you have closed the magazine. For example, while driving them to school say “Hey, remember that cute animal we saw? Can you remember what it was called? And why should we protect it?” That’s what we really want to achieve at Ziwira, to keep the conversation going, and make green living an intricate part of our lives, from toddler days to retirement!

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CATEGORY

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