Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2024, Issue 113 i Eco Kids Planet Magazine

You will need (for each wheel) • Thin card (a cereal box works well)• Scissors• A pen and a pencil• A ruler• A split pin 1. Draw two circles on a piece of card, one with a diameter of 12cm, and the other with a diameter of 10cm. 2. Using a ruler, find the precise centre of the larger circle. Divide the circle into halves, then quarters, and continue dividing each section until you have 32 equal parts. 3. Place the smaller circle atop the larger one, ensuring their centres align. Insert a split pin through the centre of both circles. Separate the legs of the pin at the back to secure the circles together. 4. Draw another circle about 1cm inward from the edge of the smaller circle. 5.…

Some clever animals and plants have discovered that joining forces is a game-changer, especially when survival is at stake. Let’s look at some of nature’s most ingenious collaborations. Grouper and moray eel – the dynamic duo of wicked hunters Groupers are expert open-water hunters. But imagine chasing a tasty meal only to watch it vanish into a dense coral reef! The bulky grouper has no chance of fitting through those tight spaces. Luckily, this clever fish has a sleek ally – the giant moral eel. This long, slinky creature slides effortlessly through the coral maze, ambushing prey. Now, when the grouper’s daytime hunt leads to the prey escaping into the coral, it heads straight to the eel. With a shake of its head, the grouper signals to the eel, who…

African grey parrots are truly remarkable creatures. But their existence is under severe threat. Not just pretty feathers Found in the lowland rainforests of western and central Africa, African greys are a sight to behold – adorned in shades of grey with a vivid red tail. But it’s not their stunning attire that sets them apart – it’s their remarkable intelligence. These brainy birds can figure out puzzles and tasks that stump many other animals. They can even crunch some basic numbers. Imagine a bird that can do maths! Alex was a famous grey parrot, trained by biologist Irene Pepperberg. He could count up to eight and identify objects, shapes, colours and materials. Remarkably, he even grasped the notion of ‘same’ and ‘different’. If, for example, Alex was given a…

WHEN ANIMALS OUTWIT US Animals have a knack for breaking free from captivity. You’ve heard of Christmas carols – well, here’s a Christmas camel. In Kansas, USA, in December 2021, people used a real dromedary for a Christmas nativity scene. She saw her chance to make a bolt for it and fled, escaping down a highway and then strolling around some neighbourhoods. The police and animal control officers spent a day trying to recapture her – I bet they really got the hump! And when she wandered on to a golf course, they had to give chase in a fleet of golf carts. But don’t worry, she was safely wrangled back in the end. ESC-APES! One amazing animal escape artist was a mischievous orangutan named Ken Allen. Ken was always…

Matt Slater, Cornwall Wildlife Trust Matt Slater is the marine conservation officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust. He is a keen diver and loves spotting octopuses. He has observed octopus behaviour both in the wild and in an aquarium. Josiah: What is your favourite kind of octopus? Mine is the dumbo octopus. I love octopuses because they are fascinating, beautiful and seem so alien. My favourite species is the common octopus. It’s actually a rare gem in UK waters, making its name quite a mismatch. Spotting one during a dive feels truly magical. They are so good at hiding, they only appear when they want you to see them. I love the way that, with a quick colour change, they can disappear in front of your very eyes. Rosa and Ada:…

CHEEKY COWS! Hi, Rusty fans! My story is better than all of Rhona’s put together. Have you got a chill-out zone? Somewhere to play games, escape your annoying sister, and think about dinosaurs? (Well, that’s what I do.) Mine’s my bedroom. Sadly, it’s right next to Rhona’s room, but I barricade the door so she can’t barge in to boss me around. Anyway, imagine looking forward to a nice rest there – and finding it full of cows! It happened to 19-year-old Michael Andrew. He works on his family farm in Cornwall. That’s where he’s raised five tame cows from when they were just five-week-old calves. After working hard all day, he aimed to game. But his relaxation room had turned into Cow Central! His cows had found their way…

Kudos to our three winners: In the depths of the jungle, hangs a creature so slow – A sloth, so lazy and content, with nowhere to go. Its fur, a shade of brown, blending with the trees, Easily overlooked, but oh, it’s such a peaceful ease. With every movement, it takes its time, No need to rush, no need to climb. It simply hangs and sways, in its own rhythm and pace, A reminder to us all, to slow down and embrace. Its claws are sharp, but oh-so gentle, Never inflicting pain, never being too forceful. It eats and sleeps, and that’s all it needs, No worries, no stress, in this life it leads. A sloth, so simple, yet so wise Teaching us to live, without any lies. For in…

MONTHLY COMPETITION Do you dream of adopting a dog or a chatty parrot? What if you could teach your pet to do something new and mind-blowing? For this month’s contest, grab your pens, paints or crayons, and draw your ideal pet! Tell us about the epic tricks you’d love your pet to pull off! FOUR lucky readers will win this exciting workbook from Mass Audubon. 4 TO WIN! Nature Smarts Workbook Learn about wildlife, geology, Earth science, habitats and more with nature-themed puzzles, games, quizzes and hands-on outdoor experiments. From discovering the life of rocks, playing detective with clouds, and distinguishing creatures with and without backbones to recognising bird beaks and plant parts, this book complements school STEM lessons. It’s a fun-filled adventure designed to nurture our future naturalists and…