|
Hi Green Kids!
Welcome to the Green Kids Club Newsletter where you can keep up with the Green Kids Club happenings each month, learn some new things, and challenge yourself as a true Green Kid ambassador for the planet (adult or child)!
|
|
|
We have revisited our story from the Classic Green Kids Club story, "Gorilla’s Roar with new art from Andreas Wessel-Therhorn, a past Disney Artist. This story highlights the importance of saving mountain gorilla’s who are teetering from a precarious spot where their species may not be recovered. At this time there are around 800 Mountain Gorillas left in the entire world. This article gives you some insight on what is happening to their populations.
I hope this book will bring some support to save Mountain Gorillas and help people realize the importance of protecting them.
|
|
|
|
What does 2022 look like for new Environmental Heroes books?
|
|
|
|
Grizzly 399 and her 4 Cubs! This is a follow up story of Grizzly 399 and the last year raising her cubs. This story will bring some of her adventures forward and hopefully give some insight as to what needs to be done to make a difference in saving our imperiled grizzly bears. You can read about her in our earlier children's book, Grizzly 399. Thank you to Thomas Mangelsen for your amazing photos and collaborating with us on these books!
|
|
|
Kareem the Brave Chimp – based on a true story of a chimp that has undergone medical testing and is a survivor! Kareem lives in a 230+ acre forested sanctuary in the Blue Ridge Mountains provided by Project Chimp. They have over 200 former research chimpanzees living in the sanctuary.
"Project Chimps has an agreement with the medical research facility that has the largest population of privately-owned chimpanzees in the world, which allows us to bring the lab’s chimpanzees to permanent sanctuary." Thank you Project Chimp! Wait till you hear his story!
|
|
|
|
Saving Skali – the tale of saving an Orca from captivity. We will be co-authoring this story with Phil Fairclough, a renowned, amazing wildlife film producer.
Phil just recently, produced Cher and the Loneliest Elephant, about Kaavan an Asian elephant who lived alone in captivity for nearly 7 years in a Pakistani zoo. This documentary follows the story to release this elephant from its shackles.
We are excited to be working with Phil and hope that some of the books we write with him will make a difference - although he already is!
|
|
|
|
Bee Book with Elephants without Borders! This is a cute story about a Queen Bee that asks her daughter, Princess Lilly to find a new home for their bee family, because pesticides are killing them off. Follow them on a fun adventure through the Africa wilderness to find a home! P.S. Did you know that elephants are afraid of bees! So find out why Elephants Without Borders is writing a book with us about this very subject - coming soon!
|
|
|
|
Please help us with our virtual fundraiser to benefit our friends at Elephants Without Borders (EWB). The beautiful tote bag features a photo of Molelo and his adopted elephant family. All proceeds will go directly to the work that EWB is doing for elephant conservation in Botswana. With COVID hitting many areas in Africa including Botswana, EWB can use all the help they can to continue making a difference!
|
 |
|
|
Coral Reef Restoration
While in Belize, we at Green Kids Club were able to visit with a group of young adults, led by Valentine Rosado from Grass Roots Belize. This group of young Belizeans are making a difference in coral reef restoration and we are excited to be working with them! We have written a book about coral reef environmental issues, but getting to see what it takes to regrow coral was amazing! We will post more information on their activities through Love the Wild Foundation.
|
|
|
|
Green Kids Club Reading Activities in Collaboration with Love the Wild Foundation
One of the fun things Green Kids, in collaboration with Love the Wild Foundation does, is to conduct book readings for children's classes and programs. Before Halloween we were able to do a reading at the St. James Episcopal School in Southern California. The story we highlighted was "Princess," a story of an orangutan who was taught to sign language by Dr. Gary Shapiro (founder of the Orang Utan Republik Foundation). After our reading we discussed issues related to palm oil. This way the children would learn the difference between sustainable and non-sustainable palm oil that their candy goodies contain from Trick-or-Treating activities. To hear Gary read the story click here.
|
|
|
 |
We are pleased to announce Ian Michler from Blood Lions as our environmental hero (see our webpage) for this quarter. Ian has made a significant difference in ending lion farming and the commercial exploitation of this species in South Africa. He is the lead character, researcher, and co-campaign leader of the award-winning documentary Blood Lions .
According to Ian, there could be as many as 12,000 lions in captivity in private facilities throughout the country. In some of these captive-breeding facilities, tourists pay to pet, bottle-feed, and take selfies with lions cubs. Often, once the cubs grow up they are sold to hunting facilities where they are shot by trophy hunters in "canned" hunts held in fenced areas. The skins and heads are kept by the hunters, and their bones are often exported to Asia for use in traditional medicines. These lions lead a miserable and inhumane life.
This documentary has helped to shed light to these abhorrent practices, and public outcry has influenced the South African government to end the captive lion breeding industry in this country. Now its time to see if they actually do this. Listen to the Q&A’s with Ian on what is happening right now.
Thank You Ian for making a difference!!!
|
|
 |
The Real Grizzly 399 and her 4 Cubs
Green Kids has written two stories about Grizzly 399, one of the most famous bears in the world. She lives in Teton National Park, Wyoming. She has had many cubs over the years but at the age of 24 years old, she surprised the world with the birth of 4 babies. Grizzly 399 is a very good mother and over the years has learned to live by and around people with no real negative situations arising.
However, this last month she wandered into Jackson, Wyoming late at night – not such a good idea. She was detected by the Jackson Police Department who notified other government officials and they safely escorted her out of town. I can’t imagine walking out my door and being confronted with 5 grizzlies walking towards me!!! But word on the bear street is that all 5 of them are in hibernation now!
Read our book Grizzly 399 Hibernation Pandemonium, to imagine what it would be like for 5 large bears to be in a small den!
Here is the article and accompanying video of Grizzly 399's family trip into Jackson, Wyoming!
Wolves & Grizzly Legislation
The federal government is evaluating the wolf hunting regulations being administered by Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. These new laws allow little to no restrictions of the taking of wolves - including reduction of the population significantly. See article. The change in hunting laws allow hunters to take wolves in any way they see fit - baiting, trapping, etc. - in fact, in Idaho, the State is actually paying hunters to come in and shoot them from helicopters or whatever method they so choose. There are hopes that a moratorium will be put in place to provide temporary protection and relief to the wolves from being slaughtered.
A tri-memorandum of agreement (MOA) is being put into place between Wyoming, Idaho and Montana to delist grizzly bears – article. Grizzly bear biologist, Dave Mattson wrote in Grizzly Times blog post published before the plan was approved, “The methods contained in the States’ MOA are so egregiously flawed as to call into question the competence and motives of the wildlife managers who concocted them.” This MOU is close to being approved and will create many issues for proper bear management within these states.
Legislation for Big Cat Issues in the US
The Big Cat Public Safety Act makes it illegal for exhibitors (such as circuses and zoos) to allow direct contact with cubs. This legislation was reintroduced into the senate in April 2021. The Netflix Show with Joe Exotic has really brought this issue to people’s attention here in the states. Africa is not the only country dealing with similar issues. |
|
|
December Animal & Environment Observances
|
|
|
 |
Animal Holidays for December 2021
2021 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- Christmas Bird Count Week - December 14, 2021 - January 5, 2021 (Every Dec. 14 - Jan. 5)
2021 Days: (Date Order)
- International Cheetah Day - December 4
- World Wildlife Conservation Day - December 4
- International Day of Veterinary Medicine - December 9
- National Llama Day - December 9
- Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales - December 10
- International Animal Rights Day - December 10
- Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals Day - December 11
- National Day of the Horse - December 13
- Monkey Day - December 14
|
 |
|
One of the weirdest December animal “holidays” has to be the Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales. This made up holiday, is supposedly based on Inuit tradition, but has some basis in truth.
The indigenous Inuit people of the north have been hunting whales for years. Their diet consists primarily of whale meat, fish, seals, and walrus. In harsh climates, fruits and vegetables are not readily available. Additional meat items come from caribou, bowhead whales and other mammal.
According to National Geographic:
“Between 60 to 70 percent of the northern Inuit diet consists of whale meat. The Inuit people believe that the animals they hunt have spirits. There are many rituals associated with the hunt itself and three celebrations each year designed to show respect for the souls of the animals, bring luck to the hunt, and to give thanks to the spirits of the animals that have been killed for food.”
So now you know something about the Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales!
|
|
 |
|
Christmas is almost here! Do you know much about the reindeer? Are these truly Santa’s sleigh pullers? Reindeers are such magnificent animals, but sadly the number of reindeers has declined by over half in the last century.
According to NOAA’s 2018 Arctic Report Card, reindeer and caribou herds have declined by 56 percent in the past two decades—that's a decrease of 2.6 million reindeer from a population of 4.7 million to a population of 2.1 million. Five herds in Alaska and Canada were particularly at risk: their populations have declined by more than 90 percent and showed no signs of rebounding. The report said that this should not be unexpected based on global warming issues resulting in more bugs (reindeer trying to avoid bugs and not eating enough), not enough food available and more rain that freezes making it hard for reindeer to access food. But there is some good news – NOAA expects reindeer numbers are variable and numbers may increase again, AND other good news there are still plenty of reindeer to help pull Santa’s sleigh!
|
|
|
Maybe for Christmas this year try to reduce the amount of waste you generate from packaging materials. If you do wrap presents, try to reuse bags, newspaper and other types of paper you may otherwise throw away. Use bags that can be reused the next year – or don’t wrap them at all! Also watch the amount of plastic wrapping you use and look for biodegradable wrapping materials if you choose to wrap! Or give gift cards that don’t require you to generate waste from wrapping activities. Bah humbug – lol!
|
 |
|
|
Has anyone ever seen a turtle fly? Well Turtles Fly Too, Inc. is an amazing group that transports at risk endangered turtles and saves them. They not only help to save turtles but other marine life requiring help.
Take a look at this amazing video showing some of the work they are doing!
"Our mission is to improve the survival rate of endangered species by engaging general aviation pilots to provide emergency air transport for affected species and critical response teams."
|
|
|
|
Our Livestream Interview with Ian Michler of Blood Lions
Princess storytelling with Dr. Gary Shapiro - click here
Hear us read Grizzly 399 and also A Tail of Three Lions
Our first E-book out on Amazon Kindle Books – Grizzly 399 – you can take this book anywhere you can carry your phone!!!!
|
|
Calling all Educators – Including Home Schooled Children!
If you are interested in an online class to teach children about wildlife, especially grizzly bears, go to our online class about Grizzly 399, through Inspired Classroom. We plan to add in some additional classroom challenges as we get into the winter. If anyone is interested in participating in this challenge go to Inspired Classroom to learn more. Feel free to email us questions as well, if you would like to get involved in our challenge! |
|
|
| |
|
About the author
Green Kids Club