Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2025, Issue 131 i Eco Kids Planet Magazine

I’m Scooter, an Okarito brown kiwi from the Okarito Forest on the South Island. I’m out on patrol, snuffling through leaf litter with my super-sniffer beak. Did you know kiwis are New Zealand’s national bird? We may be shy by day, but when night falls, we own the forest paths. By day, I hide among the ferns, quiet as a shadow. But when the stars come out, I’m a different bird altogether. I stomp about like a feathered bouncer. And if another creature barges in, I stand my ground with my sharp claws and plenty of attitude. Shy by day, feisty by night – that’s the kiwi way. See this super-long beak? My nostrils sit right at the tip, so I can sniff out worms and beetle grubs under the…

It’s me, Charlie, the Eco Kid who can chat with animals. This time, I’m in New Zealand’s Southern Alps to meet a very intelligent, feathered prankster! Charlie: I’m on New Zealand’s South Island, hoping to interview a kea. They’re the world’s only mountain parrots and live in the cold Southern Alps here. They’re said to be one of the planet’s smartest birds – maybe the smartest. Experts think they’re as clever as a monkey – or even a four-year-old human. But I’ve also heard they’re the cheekiest, most mischievous birds out there. They’ve been nicknamed ‘clowns of the mountains’. They do seem playful. I can see a couple chasing each other, spiralling and looping through the sky. Oh – one just broke away. He’s flying towards me. Kea: Kee-aaa, kee-aaa!…

Yes, we flew them halfway around the world to visit their dream holiday destination, New Zealand. (On the 25-hour flight, Rusty really bugged Rhona by asking, “Are we there yet?” every five minutes!) If you love nature, wildlife and adventure, it might be your dream destination too. This incredible country is bursting with unique animals not found in the wild anywhere else. Why? Well, for millions of years, New Zealand was cut off from the rest of the world by vast oceans. With no other lands nearby, and few predators or rivals for food, its wildlife had time and space to evolve in its own special ways. The result is an amazing cast of characters! Some of the most famous are its flightless birds. And then there’s the tuatara. They…

Weird things do happen. My bulging case files are proof of that! So, what if you read so much about New Zealand’s animals that you turn into one? New Zealand has lots of extraordinary animals. But which one do you have most in common with? Take my quiz to see which creature you’re most likely to turn into if it happens! Pick the box description below that mostly – or totally – shouts you, then flip to page 34 to discover your animal match. But no peeking ahead or you’ll spoil the surprise! Then come back here and try the quiz on someone else to find out if you’d get along in New Zealand, share the same habitat or never encounter each other in the wild! WHICH OF THESE BEST…

My New Zealand trip made me more passionate about nature than ever (even though I had to look after Rusty the whole time). Now I’m back with lots more animal news! RHONA REPORTS! NO. 66 And don’t forget about me – Rusty! DEVOTED TO DUCKS! A group of ducks in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, decided that a car park in town was the ideal place to roost with their ducklings. Maybe they feel safer away from riverside predators – or perhaps the cobblestones there are warm! To keep them safe, 15 volunteer duck wardens escort them from the river every evening at 8.30pm. Once the birds have plonked themselves down for the night, the wardens place cones around them and keep watch until the town goes quiet. That’s around 11pm on…

This month, we’re celebrating Aotearoa’s amazing wildlife with a stamp-design challenge. Pick a New Zealand animal – such as a kiwi, kea, kakapo, tuatara, Hector’s dolphin, little blue penguin or giant weta – and turn it into a bold, collectable postage stamp. Make it look like the real deal: add the words New Zealand, a value in New Zealand dollars or cents (for example NZ$1.80 or 80c) and a neat, perforated edge. Keep the background simple so your animal stands out. You can draw, paint or collage – your style, your stamp. Add a short note (up to 50 words) telling us why you chose this animal or one brilliant fact about it. Stamp checklist • New Zealand • Animal’s name • Value (e.g. NZ$1.80 or 80c) • Perforated edge…

Meet Bagpipes, a world-famous penguin with a high-tech twist! This little blue penguin has lived at the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand, ever since he lost his left foot in 2007. For almost 10 years, he waddled, hopped and shuffled his way through life. Then, in 2016, science gave him something amazing – a brand-new 3D-printed foot! Q: What makes Bagpipes' story so special? A: He’s one of the first little blue penguins to try a custom 3D-printed foot after losing his left one to fishing line. Without it, he had to use his beak and flippers to move in ways penguins aren’t meant to, which caused sores and made standing and waddling tiring. With patient training and several test versions, he learned to stand taller, balance better…

I’m Moksha! I’m nine years old and I care deeply about climate change – and how we can all help stop it. Did you know that every year around 400 million books are thrown away and end up in landfills? That’s a mountain of stories lost, unread and unloved. But it’s not just the stories we lose – all those discarded books add to climate change, releasing over 2 million tonnes of CO2 during production and another 60,000 tonnes as they rot in landfills. Last year, I launched Books4ourfuture to rescue billions of preloved books from landfills, reduce carbon emissions, support charities and make reading more accessible for everyone. By encouraging gifting and donation of pre-loved books, we’re turning waste into something amazing. The campaign is already helping many charities, suchasOxfam,…