Take the Mossy Challenge

If we want to save the animals, we have to help the climate and the earth. It's not as hard as you think.

First, I challenge 50 people reading this to change to better light bulbs, like we did at our house. (These are some examples.) The kind we have are swirly, but just as good as the old ones.

And it would be great if 50 people could plant a tree in their yard.

And can 50 people send some money to World Wildlife Fund, Sierra Club, or Nature Conservancy? We're members of those, but there are lots of good ones.

And I KNOW you recycle, right?!!!! And NEVER EVER litter!!!!

E-mail this to your friends. Spread the word. Then tell me some things you will do. The animals will thank you! And I will thank you in a future posting.

Giant Panda

Everyone loves pandas. The zoos in the U.S. with pandas are National Zoo in Washington D.C., Zoo Atlanta, San Diego, Memphis Zoo. I've seen the pandas at the National Zoo and Zoo Atlanta-- they were very cool. You can hear what one sounds like here, or check out a panda cam and videos here.

Pandas are very endangered. There are only about 1,600 in the wild, all in China. About 150 are in zoos-- mostly in China. They eat bamboo. In Chinese they are called "Giant Bear Cats." Aren't they amazing?

The Animal Riddle-- Are You Ready for 5th Grade?

This is just for fun. Tomorrow is my last day of fourth grade, so to celebrate, let's see how smart YOU are.

1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?

Correct answer: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe and close the door. This question tests whether or not you are doing simple things in a complicated way.

2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?

Incorrect answer: Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant and shut the refrigerator.
Correct answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This question tests your foresight.

3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend except one. Which animal does not attend?

Correct answer: The elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator! This tests if you are capable of comprehensive thinking.

OK, if you did not answer the last three questions correctly, this one may be your last chance to test your readiness to be a fifth grader.

4. There is a river filled with crocodiles. How do you cross it?

Correct Answer: Simply swim through it. All the crocodiles are attending the animal meeting!

Endangered Snail Kite in South Carolina

Hey, the very rare, endangered snail kite was spotted in South Carolina.
You can read the story here.

What is your animal personality?

What is your animal personality?

My power animal is the eagle,

and I was a whale in a past life.

What about you? Try it below. Let me know!
http://www.blogthings.com/theanimalpersonalitytest/

Baghdad Zoo Hero-- Exclusive Interview!

In an earlier post I wrote about the Baghdad Zoo. I also did a post about a book on the rescue of its animals, and then a post on how it might be made into a movie.

Well, I just did an e-mail interview with the hero who saved Baghdad Zoo, Lawrence Anthony. He's the guy on the left. Here it is:

I live in Columbia South Carolina USA. I have a blog about animals and wrote about you on it twice.
Thanks for your letter and your support on your blog. It is much appreciated.

You must be very brave! What was the scariest part of saving the zoo?

The scariest part about being in Baghdad was the war going on around us, especially in the beginning before the end of “major hostilities.”

When will the movie come out?

As regards to the movie, I believe it is a slow process but from what I have been told it is now under way. You could follow the progress like I do with a Google alert for “Good luck Mr Anthony.”

Have you seen any Rhinos where you live at Thula Thula (South Africa)?

We have Rhino on Thula Thula which I see regularly when I am out in the reserve.

Have any animals ever wandered into your house?

We often have animals wander into our garden, and on occasion we take in abandoned or injured animals and release them once they have recovered.

Congratulations on your book and movie.
Thank you. Please let me know what you think of the book if you read it.

Happy Endangered Species Day

May 18 is endangered species day! Some animals considered endangered?

Elephants!

Rhinos!

Polar Bears!
Some of the endangered animals in South Carolina are the Piping Plover, Loggerhead Turtle, Eastern cougar, manatee, and whales like the right, finback, blue and humpback.

Many scientists think almost half of all animals on earth will become extinct in the next 50 years! Stop pollution, stop poachers, stop habitat destruction! Do your part.

Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Bon voyage Lighthouse! Who is Lighthouse?



Lighthouse is a loggerhead turtle who the South Carolina Aquarium is releasing this Saturday the 19th. You should check it out!

Did you know it is the state reptile for South Carolina? It is endangered worldwide. Man is its greatest threat because of fishing and habitat destruction. On many beaches, house lights can confuse baby loggerheads, so turn off your lights from May to October. Only 1 in a thousand hatchlings live to be adults. We're lucky to live in a place where we can help them if we want. Here's more information on sea turtles.

The Lorax in South Carolina

There is a forest and wetlands near South Carolina's coast where all the trees might get chopped down for new houses. You can read the newspaper story about it.

This is another story about fishermen off the coast of North Carolina who are using nets and lights that can kill the loggerhead turtle. The loggerhead is endangered.

Here's a story where home builders might be destroying bird habitats in South Carolina. Birds are very important to our environment. And here's another one about how South Carolina power could make global warming worse. This says our state already pollutes too much.

These remind me of the story of The Lorax, which you can click and watch. What do you think? You can leave a comment.

Koala Twins!!!

Meet Little Michelle and Little Amanda. These koala twins were born in China! It is very rare for koalas to have twins. 祝你生日小无尾熊 (Happy birthday to you, koalas!)

Baghdad Zoo the Movie

I wrote about the rescue of the Baghdad Zoo animals in an earlier post. I was very happy to get two comments from people who have been to that zoo! Read their comments if you would like to know what they saw at the Iraq zoo. And guess what? I just found out Disney might make a movie about it!

Lawrence Anthony is brave, and he did a good thing. The rescue of the zoo is a really interesting story that should make a good movie. But I think it will have sad parts because of the war, and this tiger who got shot by a drunken soldier.

Click on comments and tell me what you think about the Iraq zoo and the upcoming movie.

Riverbanks Helps Endangered Koalas

I wrote about koalas in an earlier post. They are not bears, remember? They are marsupials, and they sleep 18 hours a day! And unfortunately they are very endangered. At the Riverbanks Zoo, they are trying to save the koala. South Carolina has a special friendship with Queensland Australia where koalas come from. This is where our koalas Lottie and Killarney come from.



Why don't you visit the koalas at Riverbanks Zoo? If you can't go, you might be able to see them on this webcam. Now you should do something to help nature and wildlife. What will you do to help?

Meerkats and gorillas and grizzly bears, oh my!

Have you ever heard of the Riverbanks Zoo? I've mentioned it in some of my postings.

When I first visited five years ago, I thought it was a really good zoo. There have been lots of changes since then. The polar bear is gone, and that's probably good since it's so hot in South Carolina, and he's at a colder place now. And the rhino is gone too. But Riverbanks keeps getting better, with the grizzly bears, the koala, the gorillas, the elephants and the bird house.

I once had a private tour of the elephant house from zoo director Palmer Satch Krantz II, and met Tumpy the Elephant. And I also met a diver as he dove into the fish tank.

I like the way the grizzlies walk around. The meerkats always seem hard at work. I like to see the hippo come up for air.

You can see animals at Riverbanks you might never get a chance to see. It's educational. And when people see them, I think they'll like animals more, and feel like they want to save them. Why do you like zoos?

Saving the Baghdad Zoo

We were driving in our car and heard this amazing story on the radio about the zoo in Iraq. Listen to it if you can. It made me feel sad for the animals in the Iraq zoo. Lots of animals must have died. I thought the man who saved the animals was very brave. It reminded me of all the crazy things going on over there. If he and the American soldiers worked to save animals way over in Iraq, we should try to do more to save animals here!

Here are two lion cubs found in Iraq. What are your comments?

A Letter to the President

Dear President Bush:

My name is Mossy from South Carolina. Would you like to know what I think of your idea to change the endangered species act? I really don't like it. It stinks. Seriously!

Why won't you do more to help endangered animals? I don't get it. Is it true that the law might get changed in a way that HURTS endangered animals? Is this story true?

This is the American Bald Eagle. It was endangered once.

I hope you will change your mind. Thank you.

P.S.-- Stop the Iraq War.

Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Really Extinct?

I've seen a pileated woodpecker up close a few times at Congaree National Park. Once I was so close in my kayak, it was amazing! But I REALLY wanted to see or hear an Ivory-Billed Woodpecker. Many people are afraid they are extinct. My dad showed me this article in The State newspaper about the search for them in South Carolina.


I'm disappointed they didn't find any Ivory Billed Woodpeckers, but I still think they are out there! Listen to one at this site so you'll know if you hear it! What do you think?