|
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)! Valentine's Day should be every day - show love to each other our planet and its beautiful animals!
|
|
 |
Well, we have a sneak preview of our newest Grizzly 399 story with beautiful art from talented Morgan Spicer. This is a continuation to the story of Grizzly 399 and the last year with her 4 hungry cubs. Our book follows the adventures she had in the summer of 2021 and what it took for her to get all 5 of them fed. At the end of this book, we highlight what needs to be done to ensure the bears located in the Teton Park area are kept safe from what we as humans have done, to impact their lives.
|
|
 |
|
For those of you who are familiar with our books. We began our Environmental Heroes stories with a story about Molelo the brave little elephant that survived a poachers fire deep in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. I was so lucky to just happen to be visiting the Elephants Without Borders (EWB) camp – when I was introduced to this amazing little elephant. He eventually was taken to the EWB Elephant orphanage where he became the leader of the orphan elephant family there. But Molelo, over the years has had some health issues which led to his passing away on Christmas morning. We are all so sad to have lost him. He will forever be in my heart and to EWB and also to the elephants he left behind – I know he is still with us in spirit and his life has made a difference in our lives.
|
|
|
Fundraiser for Elephants Without Borders Elephant Orphanage
|
|
|
|
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 Tuli who was part of his 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!
|
 |
|
 |
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!!!
|
|
 |
Grizzly 399 and her 4 Cubs (illustration from our newest book yet to be released)
Grizzly 399 is sleeping with her babies right now (at least we believe she is). She normally comes out of hibernation around the end of April. This year will be different since she will be moving her 4 cubs on to go on their own. Grizzly 399 has done an amazing job taking care of 4 cubs and making sure they survive to be able to go out on their own. She is amazing! |
|
|
February Animal & Environment Observances
|
|
|
 |
February Month: (Alpha Order)
- Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
- Humpback Whale Awareness Month
- National Bird Feeding Month
- National Goat Yoga Month
- National Wild Bird-Feeding Month
- Responsible Animal Guardian Month
2022 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- Bird Health Awareness Week - February 20-26, 2022 (Last Full Week of February)
- Great Backyard Bird Count - February 18-21, 2022
- Homes for Birds Week - February 13-19, 2022 (Second Full Week of February)
- National Invasive Species Awareness Week - February 28 - March 4, 2022 (For 5 Days Starting the Last Monday in February)
- National Justice for Animals Week - February 20-26, 2022 (Begins on the Fourth Week in February)
- Whooping Crane Festival - February 24-27, 2022
2022 Days: (Date Order)
|
|
|
Pangolins - the Most Trafficked Mammal
|
|
|
 |
I would expect that no one that is reading this has ever seen a Pangolin. I for one - never even heard of one until I began to visit Africa. This photo shows that they have scales that resemble armor. They are very shy animals found in areas throughout Africa and tropical Asia. They are also believed to be the most trafficked mammal in the world. Unfortunately many are being taken by poachers for Asian medicinal practices and luxery goods. Over 1 million Pangolins have been poached over the last decade. The Pangolins are now considered endangered. If you have a few minutes please watch the following u-tube video on the Pangolin and the effects we have on this beautiful animal. I hope to see one - someday.
https://youtu.be/DqC3ieJJlFM |
|
|
With Valentine’s Day coming almost here make sure that the chocolate you buy comes from sustainable Palm oil farms. As you may or may not realize, chocolate as well as many other items like biscuits and breads to shampoo and toothpaste contain the ingredient of palm oil. This huge global demand is driving the destruction of orangutans and other species to the edge of extinction. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil organization contains information related to companies that use sustainable palm oil in their products.
If you see this symbol 
on your product, you know you are obtaining a good that uses sustainable palm oil. Also here is a short film that is very powerful.
|
 |
|
|
Environmental Non-Profit or NGO Highlight
|
|
|
 |
| With World Whale Day around the corner we would like to highlight the Whale Sanctuary Project. This organization is working to establish a coastal sanctuary where whales and dolphins can live in an environment as close to natural as possible. The sanctuary would take whales and dolphins that have been in captivity and need a place to retire. The sanctuary is being created in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia. Curently, Green Kids with producer Phil Fairclough, are writing a book on an orca that has been in captivity and hopefully can be taken to a place such as this amazing location. See this beautiful link to the place they are proposing. We hope to be working soon with them! |
|
|
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