|
SCAVENGER
HUNT [Print
and take to the zoo!]
Biodiversity is one of the most important new ideas of the last century. "Bio" means life, as in "biology . . . the study of life" or "biography…a story about a life". "Diversity" means variety, difference. If you have a wide diversity of clothing in a room, there are many different kinds of clothing. (There is not much diversity of clothing in the army since soldiers wear uniforms.) So, biodiversity refers to all the different varieties of life on this planet. The
rainforests of the world are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Over
half of the different types of plants and animals in the world live in
the rainforests. At the present rate of destruction, some species become
extinct EVERY DAY. The biodiversity on this planet is being destroyed.
Since biodiversity is the glue, which holds all the food chains together,
all life on this planet is being threatened. I
am an omnivore, which means I’ll eat both meat and vegetables. Most
other living creatures on the planet fear me, though I have no horns or
claws or venom (poison). I have changed the world more in a few hundred
years than any other animal in history and because of this I am in danger
of mass extinction, though there are billions of me left. I live all over
the world and come in a wide variety of colors. I am good at climbing
and swimming but I am not a very fast runner. Who am I? 1. I am a carnivore and a predator though sometimes I will scavenge. I live in the Arctic where I stay by myself most of my life. I am well camouflaged in the snow, though my skin is actually black to absorb the heat of the sun. I will kill and eat seals and walruses, but I will also eat carrion, such as a dead whale. I love water and am such a strong swimmer that I can swim miles at a time. Who am I? Bonus Answer: Polar Bear. Our Polar Bear exhibit is under construction; therefore we do not have polar bears at this time. Get ready for an impressive exhibit nine times larger than before! Polar Bear Exhibit- closed for renovations 2.
I am a primitive primate from Madagascar. Unlike all the other monkeys,
my muzzle (nose) is like a dog’s. Almost all of the rainforests where
I live have been destroyed. There used to be 44 species (kinds) of my
type, but 14 species are extinct out of the 44, I have thumbs on my hands
and feet, which help me to move about in the forest. I use my long tail
to communicate with my family. The scientific name for my family is "Lemuridae".
My particular group has some reddish fur, which gives us the rest of our
name. Who am I? 4.
My scientific name is Alopex lagopus, I am a predator. I’ll
hunt for small mammals or birds to eat, but if a dead whale washes ashore
my friends and I have a feast. In the summer I am gray, but in the winter
my fur coat turns pure white. This white color helps me to blend in while
hunting. I come from the Arctic where I often live in burrows underground.
My exhibit is near some animals, which I would never see in the wild since
most of their kind come from Antarctica. Who am I? 5.
We come from wild African birds called the "Jungle Fowl". People
have changed
us by keeping us as pets and for food for hundreds of years. Our close
relatives the Jungle Fowl can fly for hundreds of feet if they have to,
but we’re lucky if we can fly twenty. This is because people have
bred us to have lots of meat rather than for our flying ability. If we
are males we may have long sharp spikes on the backs of our ankles called
"spurs". You’ll find us in the barnyard. Don’t run
us over! Who are we? 6.
I am a monkey. I could sit on the palm of your hand. I am an omnivore
who eats insects, fruit, birds and eggs. Humans don’t know much about
how I live in the wild, but the Zoo is doing a great job with me. You’ll
find me in Tropical America.
Who am I? 7.
I am a large carnivore with thick fur and spots. I have very big paws
that allow me to walk easily on snow and ice. I have an African relative
who is considered the fastest land animal in the world. Who am I? 8.
I am a predator and a carnivore. I am not a scavenger. I am a bird who
can only fly underwater. I come from the West Coast of South America though
I have many relatives at the South Pole in Antarctica. We are never found
in the Arctic (near the North pole) though our exhibit is located near
the Arctic fox. Predator in question number four. 9.
I am endangered. Out of every 100 of my kind born, only 6 survive to become
adults. You can find out why on my exhibit. My claws are not sharp, as
they stay out all the time like a dog’s claw to grab into the ground,
helping me to run. I am the fastest land animal, running at 70 miles per
hour! Who am
I? 10.
I am a brachiator which means I swing from branch to branch in search
of fruit to eat. I am a medium sized primate, not nearly as large as a
gorilla but huge compared to a marmoset. I have thumbs on both my hands
and feet. I am one of the only animals besides people who will walk around
on my hind feet, though when I do I hold my arms over my head as if I
was surrendering. I am named for my white cheeks. To find me in the wild
you would have to travel to Southeast China, Laos, Vietnam or East Cambodia.
You’ll find me in a large exhibit near the Menagerie building. Who
am I? 11.
I am a medium size furry animal who lives in the trees. I have a long
bushy tail and the males and females are different colors. You’ll
find me in that Tropical America building. My sad eyes seem to plead;
"Please help protect biodiversity, with your help the world will
become a better place". 12.
I am a beautiful animal from Kenya and Tanzania. I eat leaves, buds and
fruit which I can take off the trees with my prehensile tongue which is
approximately 18 inches long. Though I live around lions, they are careful
around me since I can easily kill them with a well-placed kick. My scientific
name has a few other animals in it; Giraffa camelopardalis .
Who am I? FUN
AT THE ZOO |
||
|
||||||||||||||||
