EK Vol 38 Nature & YOU!

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WESSA’s quarterly magazine for young eco-champions

Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017

NEW! How to become a junior ranger

Nature play at uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve

WIN! Enviro-books & online wildlife courses

WILD YOGA

Try out these new bushveld poses! Interview with an EXPERT TRACKER

Local celebs make their pledge to NATURE P.S. What’s yours?

QUIZ Which animal are you?

GET IN TOUCH: Write to us at EnviroKids, P.O. Box 30145, Tokai, 7966 or email envirokids@wessa.co.za.

ISSN 1995-6703 Reg. No. 05/04658/08 Official quarterly publication of the Wildlife and Environment Society of SA (incorporated association, not for gain). Registered NPO 000-716

ED’S LETTER

WESSA’s quarterly magazine for young eco-champions

SUBSCRIBE Email envirokids@wessa.co.za or contact 073 963 4663 ADVERTISE/SPONSOR Email envirokids@wessa.co.za or contact 073 963 4663 WESSA MEMBERSHIP Visit www.wessa.co.za, email wessamembers@wessa.co.za or contact 031 201 3126

CONTENTS

Regulars 1

Dear Enviro Kids Did you know that some kids spend so much time indoors that researchers have come up with a fancy name for it: nature deficit disorder (NDD)? We can do amazing things with our internet-enabled devices – like learn even more about the environment – but our minds and bodies also need to experience the world around us. This issue of EnviroKids is all about celebrating and connecting with nature. Being “connected” today often means being in touch with your friends via social media or online chats. But here we’re talking about a different, special, ancient kind of connection: your relationship with the natural world . First we take a look at how nature supports us – it gives us so much, including food, water, shelter, medicine and plenty of joy (see page 4 for more of nature’s “services” to us).

Ed’s letter Enviro-news

13 14 16

Entertainment corner

[NEW] Welcome, young rangers!

I love my job! Q&A with an expert tracker

Editor: Renata Harper envirokids@wessa.co.za 073 963 4663

22 Cool school

Special features Nature in our lives

Designer: Marlene McKay

Photo: Alison Dingle

4 6 8

Inspired to play more, we put together some crazy new “bushveld yoga” poses (see page 10). Send in a photo of your wild pose and you could win a prize!

Nature play at uMngeni Valley

Printed by: BusinessPrint

Local celebs make their pledge to nature

10 Wild yoga

With thanks to Roberta Griffiths, Catherine Ritchie, Eugene Moll, Jenny Duvenage and the team at WESSA Howick for additional support. Publisher: Wildlife and Environment Society of SA, P.O. Box 394, Howick, 3290 www.wessa.org.za

This issue is also about getting outdoors... exploring! We’re here to remind you to play , especially if you feel lots of pressure to do well at school. Because play – especially in nature – is good for you! Take a look at what we think is the ultimate playground , on page 6. Then tell us: what’s your favourite nature activity? Comedian Eureka Nkese, featured in our story on celebrity pledges to nature (page 8), likes to do somersaults! I love to hike, but only with friends who don’t mind if I stop along the way to investigate pretty grasses or interesting tracks. By the way, for top tips on tracking, see our interview with an expert tracker on page 16. His story about a black rhino charge made me laugh till my tummy ached! It’s been fun! Catch you later, Renata P.S. All photo credits with an asterix (*) were shortlisted entries to a big photo competition held last year to celebrate WESSA’s 90th birthday. Thanks to the many photographers whose work celebrates nature in this issue.

Games, puzzles & art 18 Which animal are you? 20 Word search 21

Let’s make this! Colour-in mask

Win, win, win! 8

Make a pledge to nature (win a copy of Mr Hare Meets Mr Mandela )

Cover photo © WESSA Additional artwork © Depositphotos (unless stated otherwise)

Create a wild yoga pose (win an online wildlife course)

20 Word search

(win a copy of Tracker Manual: A Practical Guide to Animal Tracking in Southern Africa )

The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the Wildlife and Environment Society of SA. Copyright on all content belongs to WESSA and the individual contributors. No part may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. Photocopies may be made for non-profit educational purposes provided the source of the material is clearly acknowledged. EnviroKids is printed on paper created exclusively from chemical rather than mechanical pulp, making it less susceptible to yellowing. The paper contains FSC, CoC and PEFC certified wood products from sustainable forests. Inks used are non-toxic, biodegradable, and made from plant oils and resins.

CAPS FOR TEACHERS

We’re excited to announce our collaboration with Junior FGASA. This new series is full of the best ranger tips, tricks and tools as well as plenty of activities to try at home. Learn how you can become a Junior FGASA “ranger” on page 14.

20 Competitions entry form 21 Colour-in mask

These handy curriculum notes show teachers which EnviroKids articles can be used in the classroom.

(win a set of 5 creative nature masks)

EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017 1

ENVIRO-NEWS

SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTAL DAYS (June - September)

Concern for giraffes The giraffe has moved from Least Concern to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Recent research shows that the global giraffe population has declined by up to 40% over the past 30 years. This is because of habitat loss, political troubles and illegal hunting. The IUCN Red List is a record of how well or badly all kinds of animal and plant species are doing across the world.

Monday 5 June: World Environment Day

Thursday 8 June: World Oceans Day

Saturday 17 June: World Day to Combat

Desertification and Drought – see the previous issue of EnviroKids for an in-depth look at drought in South Africa. Saturday 17 June: Global Garbage Man Day is a reminder to appreciate those who collect our rubbish weekly and help keep South Africa clean.

Meet Ludfia Seales We asked Ludfia (photographed hard at work in Sunningdale, Western Cape) how we could make her job easier and be kinder to the environment. She said: ‘We often find bins that are too full and extra bags lying next to the bins. Please get an extra bin or recycle! Rubble needs to be re-used, given away to someone who needs it, or put in a skip and removed. Pet poo can be buried under non-food trees.’ A court in a national park? It’s good news! A regional magistrates’ court has been established in Skukuza in Kruger National Park. It’s hoped that the new court will help authorities to quickly deal with poaching, especially of rhino, and other wildlife crimes in the area.

Friday 28 July: World Nature Conservation Day

Saturday 29 July: International Tiger Day was founded in 2010, when the 13 tiger range countries came together to create “Tx2” – the global goal to double the number of wild tigers by the year 2022.

Thursday 10 August: World Lion Day

Saturday 12 August: International Elephant Day

A toy mom for tiger cubs Park rangers at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in India are using a soft toy tigress to help three traumatised cubs recover after the death of their mother earlier this year. The orphaned cubs have been happily feeding from milk bottles fitted inside the toy after refusing bottles from their human carers. The plan is to release the tigers into the reserve when they are ready.

Saturday 19 August: International Orangutan Day

Week of 10–16 September: SA National Parks Week allows you to enjoy free access as a day visitor to most of our national parks! Saturday 16 September: International Coastal Cleanup Day Find updates at www.facebook.com/ WildlifeandEnvironmentSocietyofSA . SA Water Explorers make us proud! During the water month of March, over 30 teams completed more than 60 Water Explorer challenges, creating a waterfall of savings and positive impacts. As a result, South Africa currently ranks third out of 11 countries. See www.waterexplorer.org/global- leaderboard for the latest scores.

Another tiger victory! A small population of Indochinese tigers has been discovered in Thailand using hidden cameras. This confirms the presence of the world’s second known breeding population. 2010 figures suggest there are only about 350 cats from the Indochinese family left in the world! Thailand’s national parks and wildlife department, anti-trafficking group Freeland, and wild cat conservation group Panthera say that poaching for the illegal wildlife trade is one of the biggest threats to the survival of the tiger.

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EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017 3

Words Heidi de Maine & Renata Harper

Nature provides food and water Much of our food comes from plants and trees that are pollinated by insects, small animals or the wind. We also fish our planet’s oceans and freshwater lakes, and use grasslands to grow crops and to graze livestock for meat. Nature provides our fresh water through

Let’s celebrate the many ways nature is essential to our lives, and to our happiness too! NATURE IN OUR LIVES

Earth’s thin life-giving biosphere

the water cycle – and we all know that every living organism needs water to survive.

Nature gives us life

Thank you to the armies of bees, wasps, butterflies, moths and beetles as well as birds and bats that pollinate flowers of the plants we (and other creatures) love to eat!

Earth is the only planet in our solar system with a biosphere that keeps the environment suitable for living organisms. The biosphere includes the land, oceans and air covering the planet’s surface. It extends from the ocean depths to about 30 kilometres above our heads, where the air becomes too thin and cold for life to survive. This protective layer provides the right temperature, air, water and climate conditions for all life on our planet.

Nature gives us stuff We use trees for fuel, paper, furniture, houses, boats and other products. We also thatch roofs with grasses and make bricks from clay and clothing from animal skins and cotton. Some plants and sea creatures are harvested for medicines, and even the glass containers are made from nature’s sand!

STUDY TIP: Studying for a test? Take a break in nature and return re-energised!

Nature improves our health Exploring and interacting with nature, and even just looking out of a window at natural scenery, calms us and reduces the effects of high blood pressure, and breathing and heart illnesses. Being in nature with its huge diversity of life improves our energy and mood, lowers anxiety, and helps us to think more clearly. Nature promotes health and a sense of happiness and wellbeing. Nature enriches our lives It inspires creative art and music, and is important in cultural ceremonies worldwide. For example, water is used in many religious ceremonies for its cleansing and purifying properties. and to enjoy activities like picnicking, swimming and hiking. Nature is also the best classroom (we think) and our learning is never done! Nature’s different ecosystems also offer us places to relax

Nature enables energy We use the power of the wind and of the water in rivers, dams and oceans to produce electricity. Nature has also produced coal, oil and gas from ancient underground animal and plant remains, and we use them to fuel our cars and power stations.

How do YOU feel about nature?

Two thirds of South Africans today live in towns and cities. This number is increasing as people move away from the countryside. As city dwellers, we live busy lives and can forget that we too are a part of nature – and that nature is all around us. Some of us feel disconnected from nature if we aren’t able to visit the game parks and nature reserves that attract so many tourists to our country.

Nature is beautifully interconnected All living things are connected to one another and their environments. Earth’s ecosystems remain healthy because nature tries to keep a balance in how they work. For example: • Ocean and air currents influence climate and rainfall patterns, and these in turn affect ecosystems and the plants and animals that live there. • The ocean’s tiny floating plants (called phytoplankton) produce about two thirds of the life-giving oxygen that we breathe! The oceans also absorb lots of carbon dioxide, helping to reduce global warming. • Rivers and wetlands store and clean our water, while river floodplains slow and store floodwater, releasing it later.

Foundation & Intermediate (Life Skills), Intermediate (Natural Sciences & Technology)

CAPS FOR TEACHERS

Nature does so much for us. Let’s give back and together protect our environment.

Words Roberta Griffiths

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EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017 5

Words Roberta Griffiths

The ultimate playground Most of our programme activities take place in the nature reserve, which has the following “play apparatus”...

Nature play at uMngeni Valley

C’mon over… it’s time to visit WESSA’s education centre at uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, where nature is your playground and learning has never been such fun.

For more info, visit http://umgenivalley.co.za .

At uMngeni Valley we are lucky to have thousands of primary school kids visit us every year from across the world. We make sure that there’s always time for nature play in our school programmes. This means we encourage you to get dirty and to learn about the natural environment through fun and interactive activities, whether you are rock-hopping along a river, or digging in the soil to find earthworms.

The riverine forests are our leadership maze

Trees, boulders and logs are our jungle gyms

The Shelter Falls plunge pool and bum slide are our water park

Did you know? Nature play is good for you! From climbing a tree to grazing a knee, exploring nature will make you healthier, strengthen your muscles and improve your immune system. It also develops your senses and keeps your mind alert, because there’s always something to discover in nature.

The Milky Way is our cinema theatre

The stream is our science centre

Highlights of uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve As well as our school programmes, we offer plenty of activities for you and your family to enjoy. • Choose from six walking trails, including Dwarf’s Dawdle Trail, which takes you through an enchanted forest of Natal giant cycads and yellowwoods. • Use our Auto Trail booklet and learn about points of interest along a six-kilometre self-drive. • See how many of the 270 bird species you can spot. • Track the spoor of nyala, bushbuck or impala. • Enjoy the antics of vervet monkeys, rock dassies and giraffes.

Learning is an adventure We believe that learning by doing and experiencing is the best way to discover the natural world. Because suddenly it all makes sense when you see a scientific concept in real life! Let’s take ‘mini-beasts’, for example, a theme that is taught in every classroom in South Africa and introduces you to the millions of invertebrates [see glossary] living in our environment. You can look at a textbook or computer

The campfire is our bush television

‘The dugout in the weeds or leaves beneath a backyard willow, the rivulet of a seasonal creek, even the ditch between the front yard and the road – all of these places are entire universes to a young child.’ Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods

The views, seasons and scenery are our art centre GLOSSARY invertebrates : Animals that have no backbone or spine. They include groups like insects, worms, snails, scorpions and spiders. Milky Way : The galaxy that contains our solar system. It’s called this because from Earth it looks like a hazy (‘milky’) band of light. pooter : A glass jar with two tubes for collecting invertebrates. Suck on the tube protected by gauze (so you don’t swallow your specimen!) and watch as the other tube vacuums the creature into the jar.

screen to see how many legs an ant (six) or spider (eight) has, but we bet you’d never forget the answer if you could use a pooter to catch real-life creatures and count their legs. So don’t be scared to climb a tree, walk in wild places or look closer at a bug… it’s the most fun you can have, and you’ll always remember the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

Matthew Cocks is Centre Manager at WESSA uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve & Education Centre

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EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017 7

Words Matthew Cocks, Photos © WESSA uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve & Education Centre

Local CELEBS make their pledge to nature

My happiest nature moment was at the top of a volcano, watching a beautiful sunrise. My first memory of nature is of the African bush, hearing the animals talking and the whispers of the trees in the wind, and savouring all the smells nature has to offer. I f we look after nature, we can lead happier lives . Imagine if there were no animals or trees and all our water was polluted? That doesn’t sound like Anji Woodley is a film and theatre actress as well as a model. She is an animal activist and ambassador for Captured in Africa Foundation, which protects vulnerable big cats in South Africa.

I pledge to take care of my planet, like it takes care of me! I pledge to use environmentally friendly products that don’t harm animals.

Making a pledge to nature means taking a stand and vowing to respect and protect our planet. Meet the local heroes who love nature just as much as you do!

I pledge to take care of our planet the best way I can. I pledge to never stop planting veggies and sharing them.

Photo supplied

What’s your pledge to nature? Post, SMS or email your pledge and you could win a copy of Mr Hare Meets Mr Mandela . (Find our book review on page 13.)

I love nature because when you are in it you forget that you Eureka Nkese is a stand-up comedian who bounces between Jo’burg and Cape Town.

a home I’d like to live in. www.facebook.com/anjiwoodleySA

Photo supplied

I pledge to spread the word about taking care of our nature parks and endangered wildlife, especially the giraffe. I pledge to save water and recycle.

are a 20-something-year-old comedian who is aspiring towards some dream or goal. When I’m in nature I can just enjoy myself, escape and forget that I have to “be somebody”. My favourite nature activity is to plant vegetables. My second favourite thing to do in nature is somersaults! Nature makes me feel… like I’m connected to the magic of our planet. I still find it amazing that you can plant one little seed in the ground and grow the most incredible vegetables. www.eurekankese.co.za

See page 2 for more info on the giraffe’s latest status on the IUCN Red List.

Loyiso MacDonald is a voice artist and actor who shot to fame with his role in the popular soap ‘Isidingo’.

Liezel van der Westhuizen is a popular radio and TV personality.

I spend a lot of time outdoors , either hiking or diving. I love getting close to nature and seeing our beautiful animal and floral kingdoms. It’s the perfect time to switch off my cellphone and relax. My first nature memory is a trip to Kruger National Park at the age of 5 with my parents seeing elephants for the first time. I remember how big they were! One of my happiest moments in nature was meeting Gerry the giraffe at the Giraffe House Wildlife Awareness Centre in Stellenbosch (one of my favourite places to visit). www.liezel.co.za

I pledge to take full responsibility for my environmental footprint. I’ll do my best to recycle and reuse and to preserve the world I live in for future generations.

I pledge to save water and electricity, never to litter and to re-purpose whatever I can.

Romy Titus is a radio presenter and sports journalist. She is involved in Babies Behind Bars, an NGO that helps babies born in prison.

Nature to me means … all things that are not man made. Nature is beautiful and interesting and all around us all the time. As a child, my happiest moments in nature were family trips to the Drakensberg or Hogsback, hiking and swimming and just being in the mountains, away from the city. My first memory of nature is of feeling the warmth of the sun on my face. I love to walk in nature , to be completely surrounded by the environment, listening to the sounds of birds and insects and trees. Nature calms me and sometimes scares

Some of my happiest nature moments were spent under the apple and quince trees in my grandpa’s garden. I’d create my own “perfume” with plants and flowers or cook up a storm in my garden kitchen. My grandpa would play along by eating my mud cakes and asking questions about the recipe! Reading is my favourite thing to do in nature. Nestled in the garden in a comfy egg chair, sun on my face, birds chirping… it’s easy to lose myself in a good book. Nature makes me feel alive! I’m a part of this ecosystem; I’m part of the heartbeat of life. www.romytitus.co.za

One of my happiest moments in nature was the final stretch of a 44-kilometre trail run in Addo Elephant National Park. I was alone and felt like nature itself was egging me on towards the finish. My first nature memory is of walking up a mountain in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands with our border collie and stopping to pick blackberries while a thunderstorm loomed. Nature makes me feel… energised, yet calm, connected and content. www.theodoralee.com

Theodora Lee is a YouTube celebrity and blogger best known for her hilarious and honest videos about awkward topics. I pledge to actively cherish our natural resources. For me that means being water wise, using public transport, recycling and reusing, cutting down on meat, and encouraging others to do the same.

me . It makes me feel alive. www.facebook.com/loyiso.macdonald

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EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017 9

Words Kirsti Rivett

Visit www.yoga4kids.co.za for more info on the Yoga4Kids Foundation’s outreach work. Thanks to the young yogis at iHATA Shelter, Heideveld, Western Cape for demonstrating these wild poses.

WILD YOGA

CAPS FOR TEACHERS

convex

We teamed up with Yoga4Kids to create new ‘bushveld poses’ for you to try out safely at home or in the classroom. Learn about these different parts of nature as you express them with your body. Even better: do the poses in nature. Getting started • It’s okay if you don’t have a yoga mat. Practise on any flat surface that isn’t slippery. • Sit cross-legged on the floor with your hands on your knees and eyes closed. • Breathe slowly and deeply as you relax and let go of all your worries... 1

concave

All levels (Science & PE)

Spotted hyena 1. Come on to all fours, with hands directly under shoulders and knees under hips. Your palms (sorry, paws) are pushed into the floor and your fingers are wide. Keep feet parallel behind you. 2. Breathe in and point your hyena’s snout up to the sky, making a deep arch with your back [see 2a ]. 3. Right, let’s show everyone why the spotted hyena is sometimes called the laughing hyena. Start cackling and giggling before you tuck in your tummy and round your back [see 2b ]. 4. Repeat as often as you like.

Baobab tree 1. Stand in a circle. Have your feet parallel and arms hanging gently at your sides. The circle represents the thick trunk of the baobab tree. 2. Shift your weight into your right leg. Place your left foot against your right calf or inner thigh (never on the knee!). 3. Connect palms with your neighbours to help you stand strong and tall. (If you are doing this pose alone, use a wall to help you balance.) 4. Keep your belly strong and your eyes focused ahead of you. 5. Repeat on the other leg. Keep your fingers wide to show the characteristic leaf structure of this baobab. Its scientific name is Adansonia digitata and digitata is Latin for ‘digit like’. You can see why!

Benefits : calming, makes spine more flexible, releases tension in the back Black rhino 1. Breathe in and take your arms out to the side, parallel to the ground.

2. As you breathe out, swing your right arm under the left, twisting at the elbows and trying to bring your palms together. This is your rhino horn. 3. Tuck your face into the arms and bend over. 4. Repeat with your arms crossed the other way.

Benefits : grounding,

Black rhinos browse

on bushes and trees; white rhinos graze on grass.

stimulates left and right hemispheres of the brain, trains focus and balance, stretches the upper body

Bonus pose! To move from baobab into umbrella thorn tree, just straighten out and link your arms at shoulder height – creating the umbrella shape of this beloved bushveld tree.

Bonus pose! To move from black rhino into white rhino, simply bend your knees some more

Benefits : stretches and strengthens shoulder area, improves coordination

and lean further down towards the ground.

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EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017 11

Words Suzie Manson, Lara Potgieter & Renata Harper, Photos Alison Dingle

ENTERTAINMENT CORNER Is that you hiding in the fynbos? The team at Creative Nature, a company that aims to weave creative play and art with serious science, has created colour-in masks inspired by the animals that live in fynbos! Fynbos is a remarkable group of plants (including proteas) found mostly in South Africa’s Cape region. The artist, Kate Muller, tells us she decided on masks because ‘pretending to be an animal gives you a unique look into its world’. The lively designs include a caracal, Cape sugarbird, Cape porcupine, spotted eagle owl and Cape cobra.

Spotted eagle owl 1. Sit upright on your haunches. 2. Put your palms together behind your back to close your wings. 3. Make your eyes wide and slowly move your head from side to side.

Benefits : strengthens legs, improves balance and focus

Psst! Creative Nature designed a special mask just for us! Find it on page 21 and see how you could win a set of masks.

The spotted eagle owl likes to nest in holes in trees or on the ground in thick vegetation – what we’re doing here!

Owls have large eyes that help them to see at night. Their necks are so flexible that they can look behind them – but they cannot spin their heads in a full circle!

www.creativenature.org.za

Get cracking with your tracking In Tracker Manual: A Practical Guide to Animal Tracking in Southern Africa (Struik Nature), expert trackers Alex van den Heever, Renias Mhlongo and Karel Benadie share their secrets to finding and interpreting the small and big signs left by 160 animals, including birds and insects. We think the “Can be confused with…” section is a stroke of genius! Complete our crossword on page 21 and you could win a copy of this handy tool for every aspiring junior ranger.

Wild dog 1. Come onto all fours as you did

Catch our interview with Renias on page 16.

When a hare meets a hero… This charming illustrated storybook tells us what happens when Mr Hare discovers a R200 note on his doormat. The money has Mr Mandela’s face on it, so Mr Hare decides he must return the note to its rightful owner. This involves a long journey from the bush to Johannesburg and all kinds of adventures along the way. To win a copy of Mr Hare Meets Mr Mandela (Jacana), see page 8.

in spotted hyena pose (step 1). Breathe in. 2. As you breathe out, lift your flashy wild dog tail towards the sky, straightening your arms and legs to create a triangle shape with your body. 3. Keep breathing! Wild dogs have white-tipped tails that act as a ‘follow me’ sign to their pack.

Benefits : strengthens the upper arms, aligns the spine

A family-friendly classroom Monty Brett offers a range of online courses, which means you can learn about your favourite wildlife and birds in the comfort of your home. All you have to do is book and pay for your favourite course (from R160 to R1 900), turn up online

Let’s finish up… Lie on your back with your legs straight and arms at your sides, palms facing up. Let your feet drop open. Close your eyes, and stay there as long as you like…

at the scheduled time and enjoy the live lecture. You’ll also receive a recording of the session afterwards. Share your wild yoga pose and you could win a 90-minute online course.

Find a list of upcoming courses at www.montybrett.com.

Send us photos of your new “wild pose” and you could win one of 3 online wildlife courses. Find more info on page 13.

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EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017 13

Words Renata Harper

Words Suzie Manson, Lara Potgieter & Renata Harper, Photos Alison Dingle

WHAT do I need to be a junior ranger?

Welcome, young rangers! EnviroKids and Junior FGASA have teamed up to bring you the best tips, tricks and tools as we together explore our beautiful world! Look out for the series in every future issue of EnviroKids.

A smartphone for taking photos so you can keep records and identify plants or creatures, or for recording video or audio. Binoculars are always handy, especially for birding. A magnifying glass for the tiny guys. A bug box is helpful for catching critters (always check with an adult if it is safe to do so). When you’re done observing, please release the little creature exactly where you found it. Before you head out into the great outdoors, remember a hat , sunblock , water and closed , comfortable shoes .

WHO is a junior ranger? You are, of course! You have a passion and a love for nature. You love to explore outdoors (or to learn about nature when you’re indoors!). You are a young person who notices a beautiful sunset or stops to listen to the melody of a bird. Of course, it’s not always easy being a junior ranger. It bothers you to see litter or wasted water and it can be a challenge to draw the attention of others to nature (especially adults; they’re always so busy).

A bug box is anything that can be used to observe a little creature for a short while. A good example is a glass jar with holes punched into the lid for air.

WHEN can I be a junior ranger? All the time… day and night, in winter

and summer and autumn and spring! There is so much to see and discover. Diurnal animals are active during the day (like you). At night a whole different group of animals starts moving around – they are called nocturnal. Before going to bed, take a few minutes to see who is out and about and what they are up to!

HOW do I become a junior ranger? Become aware of the fauna and flora in your area. What are the animals doing, what do they choose from the menu, and have they built homes? What plants do you have growing in your region – do they belong in South Africa? When do they flower and what animals or insects are attracted to them (and why?). What is the weather doing and how is your environment responding to it? Where does your water come from? Is there a river or dam close to you? Do you see pollution? These are just some of the questions junior rangers ask themselves every day.

WHY be a junior ranger? Because it’s the most important job in the world. Nature needs people just like YOU! You teach others to love our remarkable planet – and one day you will be taking care of it. As a junior ranger, you show how important it is to look after nature and how each and every one of us can make a difference. And it’s so much fun! The natural world is full of surprises and will never stop amazing you.

WHERE can I be a junior ranger? Anywhere! You don’t have to go to a National Park or nature reserve to be a junior ranger. You can be one in your back garden, in your local park, or at your school. Nature is everywhere. There is an insect party going on under nearly every rock and that tree over there is home to a whole family of creatures!

Join Junior FGASA FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) is the official organisation that certifies local nature guides. Junior FGASA’s Pangolin programme is a fun, interactive course especially designed for nature enthusiasts between 8 and 12 years old. (If you’re older, the Wild Dog programme is for you!) To get your Junior FGASA certificate, you need to complete all the workbooks, which cover topics like bushveld, desert and river safaris, birds, reptiles, insects and ocean life.

Find out how you can become a Junior FGASA member and get started on the programme at www.fgasa.co.za/membership/ junior-membership.

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EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017 15

Words Nadine Clarke

Renias Mhlongo is one of only 5 Lead Trackers in South Africa and founder member of the Tracker Academy. He was born in what is today part of the greater Kruger National Park. How did you become a tracker? I grew up in the bush. Almost as soon as I could walk, I was sent out to look after my family’s cattle. There I learned I love my job! Q&A with an expert tracker

How has tracking helped you in life? It has taught me to be patient, to just watch, and how to read people. If we don’t hunt for food anymore, is tracking still important? Some people think tracking is a useless career, that we should rather be living in big cities, but they don’t understand yet that nature can make you feel richer. I see people become happy when I take them into the bush! Tracking also creates jobs. Londolozi would not be famous for its leopards were it not for the trackers finding the leopards every day for the past 40 years. Any dangerous encounters? Too many! I’ve been charged by all of the Big 5. In Malawi, a black rhino charged us. I ran and climbed up a tree, but the branch broke and I fell out, almost on top of the rhino! I was lucky: the rhino wasn’t expecting me to come from the sky and he got a big fright and ran off.

What is your favourite animal to track? Leopards! It’s always tricky because they walk lightly on the ground. You must always be thinking about what the leopard is doing and listening to the birds’ alarm calls. The better you know the leopard, the easier it gets to track him or her. Most people walk in the bush like they walk in the city – they make a noise, don’t listen, don’t respect the animals, and so they end up in danger. Beginners are usually too fast and unaware of their surroundings. Manual: A Practical Guide to Animal Tracking in Southern Africa. (See how you can win a copy on page 20!) And your most unusual tracking experience? My friend Alex and I went to track bears and wolves in America. Bears walk lightly too. We struggled at first, but slowly improved. I learned which plants they were eating and that helped me to stay on the right trail. Karel Benadie, Renias Mhlongo and Alex van den Heever: colleagues and co-authors of Tracker

to love and understand nature. Not having any formal education, I began working at MalaMala Game Reserve as a labourer, before becoming a tracker at Londolozi Game Reserve in 1984.

What makes a great tracker? It must first come from the heart. The best trackers have good eyes, understand how animals behave, and never stop learning.

Just some everyday encounters on foot...

You are known for sensing an animal long before anyone else. Tell us the truth: are trackers psychic? No, not exactly. But growing up in the wild, you get to know the behaviour and movements of animals, your senses become sharp and you tune into the environment. It feels as if you become the animal, as you follow and interpret its tracks and signs. This deep connection is gained only through experience.

Tracking a leopard in a dry riverbed.

How can I practise my tracking skills in an urban area? Nature is everywhere. Walk in a park, listen to the birds, notice the behaviour of domestic animals. Watch a sparrow nesting under your roof and learn how it behaves. Then one day, get into the wilderness to practise your skills in a natural place where you are undisturbed.

I once tracked a thief. I trailed him through the reserve to his house, where we found him watching soccer on our TV!

Are you good at finding lost school shoes or missing homework? [Haha!] Not really. But I can see when my boss has arrived back at Londolozi – I know his shoes and tyre tread marks.

SA College for Tourism Tracker Academy is an NPO that trains disadvantaged rural South Africans in the traditional skills of wildlife tracking. www.trackeracademy.co.za

16 EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017

EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017 17

Compiled by Renata Harper & Alex van den Heever

Which animal are you?

CAPS FOR TEACHERS

Banded mongoose are highly sociable animals that live in packs. When looking for food they each enjoy their own tasty treats, but stay in the same area. They chirp quietly every few seconds to tell each other where they are. They call loudly to warn

You can learn a lot about an animal by sitting quietly, listening, and watching what it is doing. Take a look at these cool creatures doing their thing – which are you most like? Are you a combination? There is no “one way” to be... just be yourself! We all have different talents and strengths, and these should be explored and celebrated.

Intermediate (Natural Sciences & Technology); Senior (Natural Sciences & Life Skills)

when danger is near. Safety in numbers is their approach!

Take your time to watch an animal’s behaviour and you’ll find that creatures great and small can be fascinating. Animals are all different. That’s what makes each creature special.

Suni are shy, secretive and wary little antelope, not often seen – so it’s a real treat to spot them! They appear briefly at dawn and dusk to feed, but are mostly active at night. They live alone or in pairs, in dry woodland thickets. Suni will freeze if disturbed, then jump away, vanishing into the thick bush, like magic...

Chorister robin-chat are songbirds that mimic many other birds’ calls, including African crowned eagles. Each individual imitates a different combination of calls. They are so creative that they can even learn to sound like frogs, humans whistling, dogs barking and car alarms!

Pangolin look tough but are really quite sensitive. Their upper body is covered in horny scales. When frightened, pangolin roll head first into a tight ball that is difficult to force open. That’s a clever way to protect themselves! A mother pangolin will protect her baby by curling her scaly body round it.

Blacksmith lapwing chicks hatch with a covering of down feathers, so don’t need their parents’ help to keep warm. They hatch with their eyes open, walk out of the nest within hours, and feed themselves soon after. They are very independent, which helps these chicks survive because they nest on the ground.

Pangolin are the only mammals covered in scales made of keratin – the same stuff in our fingernails and in rhino horns. Pangolin scales are sought after in traditional Chinese medicine. An estimated 100 000 pangolin are illegally hunted in Africa and Asia and sold on the Asian black market every year! This makes the pangolin the world’s most trafficked wild mammal.

Blacksmith lapwing chicks are precocial , which means they leave the nest on foot soon after hatching, but stay close to their parents until they can fly. Ducks and chickens are also precocial.

Altricial chicks are born with their eyes closed and without feathers, so they are ‘helpless’ and must stay in the nest for protection until they can fly. Eagles are altricial.

Tawny-flanked prinia are active, tiny brown birds. They dash between bushes, and raise and flick their long, narrow tails as they hop around. They call ‘dzeep-dzeep-dzeep’ over and over as they flit from branch to branch, flicking their tail as they call. It’s amazing how much energy they have!

18 EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017

EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017 19

Words Charmaine Oxtoby, Illustrations Esme Walker

WORD SEARCH Find all the words in the list below. The words can go in any direction (even backwards) but are always in a straight line. Some letters may be used more than once. The leftover letters spell out a special message from us to you...

Nature and YOU colour-in mask LET’S MAKE THIS!

Send your answer, along with your competitions entry form, and you could be one of our lucky winners! See page 13 for our book review.

WORD LIST BIOSPHERE CAMPFIRE CUTTING DARE

B T F G N I

T T U C E

D I

L A I

C O C E R P

NDD OWL PLAY POOTER PRECOCIAL SIT SOMERSAULT

I S O M E R S A U L T G T W S P X H M A A R I O W L P I O P G N E T R A C K H M F O R T A Y P E L O E I Y U O T R E N D D A R E I O A G I R A F F E E D P

DIGITATA DIURNAL FLOW GIRAFFE HIKE HOME

STORY TRACK YOGA

Answer: _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Prize-winners from EnviroKids Vol. 37(4): Secret Wildlife Night hunter spot-the-difference: Siyanda Ntshebe (9); Mukelani Ndaba (10); Verushka Naicker (12) Leopard family colour-in: Zion Parker (9); Kirsten van der Merwe (9); Didintle Makgoptea (11); Sonja Fourie (13) Secret animals word search: Besiba Mbiza (9); Ndupe Lebelo (9); Lerato Moswane (9); Mmasentle Molekwa (12). Answer: FIREFLY

Please send one entry form per competition. Competitions close on 30 November 2017. Open to children under 15 years old. COMPETITIONS ENTRY FORM

How to enter our competitions:

(hmm, or is it five?) African animals on the mask.

Full name:

.........................................................................

Age:

.................

Post: Fill in the form and send with your entry to: EnviroKids, P.O. Box 30145, Tokai, 7966 . Email: Include the details on the form and send with your scanned entry to: envirokids@wessa.co.za . SMS/Whatsapp: Include the details on the form and send with a photo of your entry to: 073 963 4663.

Tel:

........................................

Cell: ........................................ Postal address: ........................................................................ Postcode: ....................... Email: ......................................................................... Answer to the competition (if applicable): ................................................................................................... What is your favourite story in this issue? ................................................................................................... What would you like to read about in EnviroKids? ...................................................................................................

Make small holes in sides and attach string or elastic. Wear and enjoy acting like each of the four

Colour in mask, adding glitter glue or any other creative detail. Cut out on dotted line. Stick mask onto cardboard.

Send a photo of you wearing your completed mask and you could win one of 3 sets of masks! (Learn more about this prize on page 13.)

Colour and activity books: www.creativenature.org.za

20 EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017

EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017 21

Compiled by Renata Harper

Art Kate Muller

Pitso Tolo Primary is proud to have been part of the WESSA Eco-Schools Programme since 2015. To find out how your school could join,

COOL SCHOOL

visit www.wessa.co.za or email zanele.khumalo@wessa.co.za.

When Pitso Tolo Primary in North West experienced water shortages during the recent drought, they decided to act quickly and responsibly. They focused on water-wise gardening and on simple ways to reduce how much fresh water they use daily.

They collected used water from the kitchen of the school’s feeding scheme and from the new hand basins. [see left]. This ‘grey water’ is used for the succulent garden as well as the ornamental garden at the entrance of the school.

Learners started washing their hands in special basins instead of in water directly from the tap. By sharing the water like this, they save a lot .

A running tap can lose up to 20 litres of water a minute!

They covered their vegetable garden with a shade cloth. This keeps birds out and helps to limit direct sunlight into the garden, keeping the soil moist for longer and the plants from drying out. It’s amazing what a difference a simple step like this can make.

Photos Supplied

They used old tyres to create a rockery garden. Tyres are often dumped in South Africa and left lying around. Reusing them is a brilliant idea because it also helps to improve the community’s environment.

Next they planted succulent cuttings in the rockery. Their new garden is beautiful and low in water needs. It also doubles up as an outdoor classroom for fun learning about local succulents.

A cutting is a piece of a plant that can grow into a new plant when it is placed in the ground. This doesn’t work with all plants, but it works very well with most succulents.

WESSA Eco-Schools, DWS and 50 schools across South Africa are working together on meaningful water action projects. Each school strives to become a water-wise institution that responds to the water challenges and risks its community faces.

22 EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017

Words Zwakele Ngwenya (WESSA Eco-Schools Coordinator at Pitso Tolo Primary)

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