Animal Adventures and Activities

Penguin Parades By: Rachel As many of you know, there are many changes happening throughout the world. With the recent outbreak of COVID-19, daily life as we know it has become very different. People are stuck at home, trying to occupy themselves with whatever is around the house or busy with school work. Some businesses are changing to online purchases only, while others face the risk of going out of business. Fast food and restaurants are adjusting to drive thru orders only and tripling staff to accommodate. And lets not forget about the brave men and women who work in the health industry, braving the front lines of this all. But while us humans feel like we got the brunt of the blow, we are not the only ones experiencing uncertainty. ("Coronavirus Closed Sign." CSA, 16 April 2020. www.chainstoreage.com)  Due to the risk of spreading this virus, many zoos and aquariums have also shut down, only allowing staff members to be present. While this doesn't seem like...

Animal Adventures and Activities Announcements By: Rachel Some of you may have already noticed this, but new things are happening to Animal Adventures and Activities!  Due to the recommendation by my lovely English teacher (thank you very much Mrs. Dennert), I stumbled across the web program Canva . While I am not sponsored by them, I would highly suggest you check it out if you love designing things digitally, or if you are a stationary lover like me! Making an account is so easy and you can even use your gmail. Once signed in, you automatically get one month free and access to many features for designing. Having said that, some of you may have noticed the new blog banner, which now has the brand new logo! It was not only super easy to create using Canva , but so much fun! To show off other things you can design using Canva, here is an announcement poster  talking about a summer program at the Milwaukee County Zoo. This poster explains a summer camp they...

Why Wild Animals Should NOT Be Pets By: Rachel People use animals for a lot of different reasons. Some use animals for plowing fields or for providing food for others. After all, food is crucial for survival and civilization. Some people use animals to breed. Humans have bred dogs, cats, cattle, and other livestock for upwards of 15,000 years! But quite possibly the most popular use of animals is as a companion. Children and adults all over the world are making new memories with their trusty side kick-dog, cat, hamster, or even fish! These little (or big) guys light up our lives, and provide us with an escape from reality. I should know, my boyfriend recently got a new kitten and he has already stolen my heart, along with many other family members'. (Everybody say hello to Hans!) One question that is fairly common in elementary school is "if you could have any animal for a pet, what would you choose?" Most kids will say their favorite animal and move on with ...

5 Animals You Didn't Know Where Endangered By: Rachel Planet Earth is home to many organisms - human, animal, plant, and even bacteria. We are the only planet know to be able to sustain life. But having to share the world between different organisms is proving to be difficult. Humans need natural resources to build, but wildlife need environments to live. For a while, humans didn't realize the significance of their actions, and animal populations started to dwindle, even disappear. It wasn't until 1973 when the United States passed the Endangered Species Act in effect to help with conservation effects. But unfortunately, that hasn't changed much. As of 2018, there are now three times as many endangered species as there were ten years ago. According to the Internationals Union for Conservation of Nature, we are losing animal species at more than 1,000 times the "normal" rate ("Endangered Species", 2018). In an effort to raise awareness of our ...

Crikey! It's the Australia Zoo! By Rachel This week's pick for the perfect place to have an animal adventure is the Australia Zoo: Home of the Crocodile Hunter! Located in the Australian state of Queensland is the Australia Zoo, an 1,000-acre zoo off the Sunshine Coast. Established in 1970, the 'Beerwah Reptile Park' was a two-acre wildlife park, home to many native animals such as tiger snakes, kangaroos, and freshwater crocodiles. Originally owned by Bob and Lyn Irwin, the zoo was passed down to their son Steven Irwin in 1991. Steve's wildlife documentary series, The Crocodile Hunter, made the zoo a popular tourist attraction, which prompted the name to change to 'Australia Zoo.' The Australia Zoo expanded, as did the Irwin family as Steve met his lovely wife, Terri, and soon had two children, Bindi and Robert. Extra funds from filming allowed Steve and Terri to put money back into conservational work, where they established the Australia Zoo Wi...

Marvelous Milwaukee County By: Rachel This week's pick for the perfect place to have an animal adventure is the Milwaukee County Zoo! Nestled into the heart of Downtown Milwaukee is 190 acres of spectacular species and fun for all ages. As one of the country's finest zoological attractions, the Milwaukee County Zoo is home to over 2,100 mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. The zoo has a renown reputation as a leader in animal management, conservation, research and education within a wholesome recreational environment. While walking around the park, guests learn about species from all over the world, and even a few species that are "locally grown." Guests also have the unique opportunity to participate in activities such as the Ocean Connections Seal and Sea Lion Show, Birds of Prey Show, and Kohl's Wild Theater. These attractions not only immerse the audience, but also bring light to the many amazing animals that call this zoo th...