EK Vol 38 Nature & YOU!

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.

© Hancho Olivier*

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.

© Evgenii Baranov/Depositphotos

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.

© Mike Wilson*

2 EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017

EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017 3

Words Heidi de Maine & Renata Harper

Words Heidi de Maine & Renata Harper