Zooper Kids - Winter 2022

WINTER ISSUE 2022 HEY KIDS! Check out our competition on the back page

Craft your own

PRIMATE PUZZLE pa ge 8

Make an

ORANGE-BELLIED PARROT CARD page 4

INSIDE »

• Butterfly BINGO

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• • Animal Make your pizza faces own planter

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l u f y a l p The

S U P P L AT Y

Visit World of the Platypus at Healesvill e Sanctuary or The Platyp us House at Melbourne Zo o to see these playfu l creatures swimming ab out.

They’re tricky to spot in the wild but you can see them at Healesville Sanctuary and Melbourne Zoo. Learn more about this amazing creature.

SNAKE

CAN YOU PAIR THE ANIMAL WITH THE FOOD IT EATS?

PLATYPUS

ECHIDNA

shrimps, tadpoles, water bugs

eucalyptus leaves leaves, grass

Zooper Kids is published for Zoos Victoria by Hardie Grant Media

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Zoos Victoria PO Box 74, Parkville Vic 3052 P 03 9340 2780 / F 03 9285 9390 E members@zoo.org.au W zoo.org.au

MANAGING DIRECTOR Nick Hardie-Grant ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Scott Elmslie ACCOUNT MANAGER Hannah Louey EDITOR Georgia Lejeune DESIGN Dallas Budde, Kate Slattery

DID YOUisKa NmOonWotre?me.

The Platypus mal that lays It’s a type of mam young from eggs and feeds its belly that its on s sweat gland

by Platypus produce milk. A ba ggle. pu a d is calle

CAN YOU JOIN THE DOTS TO HELP DRAW THE PUGGLE’S MUM?

FACT FILE Eats: they mostly feed

at night on things they find in the water such as shrimps, swimming beetles, water bugs and tadpoles.

Habits: a shy creature,

they are fast swimmers but not particularly good at walking on land.

KANGAROO

Where they live: in

KOALA

Answers on Page 17

freshwater streams in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. They make burrows in the banks of rivers, ponds or streams.

The conservation status: small frogs, mice

Vulnerable (VIC), Near Threatened (QLD, NSW, TAS).

HI FRIENDS!

ants, earthworms

Printed on FSC® certified paper with vegetable-based inks. Zoos Victoria is a carbon-neutral organisation and powered by 100% renewable energy.

I’m a Mountain Pygmypossum and I live in alpine regions in Victoria (near Mount Bogong). I hibernate for up to seven months in my nest – which can be four metres below snow.

I eat Bogong moths, the fruit from Mountain Plum Pines, insects and seeds and am listed as Critically Endangered.

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MAKE YOUR OWN

ORANGE-BELLIED PARROT hand card

Make a colourful card of the Critically Endangered Orange-bellied Parrot using your handprint.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED G reen, blue, yellow and orange craft paper Glue

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Pencil Scissors One googly eye

DID YOU KNOW? The Orange-bellied Parrot is a migratory bird. This means in winter they fly great distances between Tasmania and Victoria.

Then, once it’s getting warm again, they fly back to Tasmania to breed.

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Fold the green paper in half.

On one side, place your hand on the paper and, using the pencil, trace around the outline.

Cut out your hand shape using the scissors.

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Cut out a small semi-circle using the orange paper and glue it to the bottom of your hand card (next to your thumb).

Using the yellow and blue paper, cut out a long, thin strip on a curve from each colour.

At the base of the fingers, glue the yellow strip. Leave 2cm of space and then glue the blue strip.

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Cut out the excess blue and yellow paper in between the fingers.

Glue the googly eye at the top of the thumb. Cut out a small triangle from the blue paper and glue on the edge of the thumb (this is the beak).

Write your message in the middle of the card.

Now you’re done!

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G N I L C Y C UPAT HOME Turn your old toothbrush into a paintbrush or make bubble mixture from things you have in your pantry. Up-cycling can be so much fun.

TOOTHBRUSH TO PAINTBRUSH Give your old toothbrush a new life by turning it into a paintbrush.

All you’ll need is a (clean) used toothbrush, some water-based paint and blank paper. Paint shapes on the paper using your brush. Leave to dry and then hang on the wall or turn into wrapping paper.

TOP TIP g, flicking and hin us Try br dabbing the toothbrush to create different effects.

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TOP TIP Make sure you tie the rope to make a complete loop

BUBBLES

WHO DOESN’T LOVE BUBBLES? TRY MAKING YOUR OWN GIANT BUBBLE BLOWER AT HOME.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED 2 sticks of dowel (or two sticks of even length) Thin rope or wool (60–90cms long) Plastic container or bucket 4 cups warm water 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup eco-friendly detergent

INSTRUCTIONS 1 Pour the water into a plastic container or bucket.

to the top ends of the dowel. See picture above.

2 Add the sugar and

stir slowly until it is dissolved.

6 Dip the rope

3 Add in the detergent and stir slowly – it’s OK if it makes small bubbles.

4 Use straight away

or keep in the fridge overnight (for better bubbles).

completely into the bubble solution.

Hold it out in front of you and let the wind catch it or move it slowly through the air to create a giant bubble.

5 To make the bubble blower, tie the rope

DID YOU KNOW? It’s better for the environment to blow bubbles instead of blowing up balloons. Rubber balloons can make their way into our oceans and sea birds and other aquatic animals can eat them or choke on them.

Make sure you blow bubbles, not balloons, at your next celebration.

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MAKE YOUR OWN

PRIMATES puzzle Turn an old cereal box into a fun primate puzzle!

Ask an adult g usin yo if u need help cut ly fe sa to s scissor your jigsaw!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED Cereal box Glue Coloured pens or pencils Scissors Primates colouring sheet and puzzle template (download link on right)

DID YOU KNOW? Siamangs are known for their loud calls. They have a throat sack that allows them to make loud noises that sound like ‘boom’ and ‘wow’. Visit Melbourne Zoo to hear the Siamangs singing together.

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Before you begin!

Click here to download and print your free primates colouring sheet & jigsaw template

1 Using your scissors, cut out one side of the cereal box.

FAMILY TIES

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Print out the primates colouring sheet and use your pens or pencils to colour it in.

Glue your colouring sheet to one side of the cereal box. Cut the excess space around the colouring sheet.

Did you know that humans share a lot of similar characteristics with chimpanzees and bonobos? Here’s what we have in common with these primates:

Chimpanzees We both make and use tools

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Turn the cardboard over and glue the puzzle template to the other side.

Cut out your puzzle shapes. Now mix them up and put them together again!

Bonobos We’re both good at cooperation and sharing

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FIRST NATIONS STORIES NAIDOC WEEK

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The Dreamtime describes the beliefs and stories held by different Australian Aboriginal people. They are often expressed through art.

ILLUSTRATION BY MELANIE HAVA Bunjil the Eagle is a creator deity for the Kulin nation of central Victoria. Read Elder Murrundindi’s telling of the Bunjil the Eagle story in your copy of Zoo News (pgs 6–7).

Celebrate NAIDOC Week (3–10 July) by learning more about First Nations cultures, stories, art and histories.

For more information

Click here

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OUSE H E L I T REP

ARDS SNOW LEOP

Step inside the delightfully warm Reptile House at Melbourne Zoo and you’ll find snakes basking under heat lamps, lizards scuttling around for food and turtles swimming through their pond.

Snow Leopards love the cold. You may spot them playing at Melbourne Zoo in some snow provided by keepers for enrichment. Thick fur and an in-built scarf – its long tail – protects these big cats from the cold of winter.

NOCTURNAL HOUSE In the warmth of the Nocturnal House at Healesville Sanctuary you might find Tawny Frogmouths, Leadbeater’s Possums and Sugar Gliders keeping warm in their habitats. Some Australian possums, such as the Sug ar Glider, go into a state of torpor during winter. This means they sleep a lot to save energy.

WINTER WARMERS Some animals love the colder months!

Visit our three zoos during winter and you might spot these animals enjoying themselves.

MEERKATS You’ll find the meerkats at Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo huddled together under heat lamps on cold days. Meerkats live in desert environments where the temperature drops at night – just like winters in Melbourne.

They keep warm by huddling together in burrows.

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BISON If you spot the bison on the savannah at Werribee Open Range Zoo, you may notice they’re looking a little woollier than usual. These animals are made for the cold of winter. In the lead up to winter, bison begin growing a thick coat of fur all over their body.

MELBOURNE BUTTERFLY HOUSE

B I N G O DID YOU KNOW? It’s always 28°C in the Butterfly House to keep the butterflies comfortable. At night the temperature goes down to 22°C so the butterflies know it’s time to sleep.

When it’s cold outside you can be certain that it’s warm in the Melbourne Zoo Butterfly House.

Bring your bingo card and see how many butterflies you can spot.

Once you and ticke ’ve spotted the butte d off all of list you c rflies on the an say BIN GO!

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CRUISER N BUTTERFLY RICHMOND B BIRDWING BUTTERFLY These butterflies can be found in rainforests in Queensland. Spot the male butterfly – he is black with green stripes and black spots on his wings. Or the female butterfly – she is black with white and yellow patches on her wings.

AUSTRALIAN LURCHER BUTTERFLY Look out for this brown butterfly with an orange stripe across each wing on the vines at the top of the creek – it’s their favourite spot. The underneath of its vibrant wings looks like a dead leaf, helping these butterflies camouflage from predators.

O ORANGE LACEWING BUTTERFLY It’s easy to spot this bright orange butterfly, which can be found in the Northern Territory. But don’t mistake them for a Cruiser butterfly – these insects have black and white colouring on the tip of their wings.

Try to find this completely orangecoloured butterfly!

You might see them sipping nectar from the feeders or getting close to the creek – they love wet soil.

ULYSSES BUTTERFLY If you spot a large electric blue butterfly – with black borders around its wings – you’ve found the beautiful Ulysses butterfly. It’s another butterfly that lives in the rainforest of Tropical North Queensland.

G

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LET’S COOK!

ZOOPER KITCHEN

ANIMAL FACE PIZZAS Try these easy animal-inspired pizzas for dinner.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED F latbread or English muffins Tomato paste Mozzarella cheese balls Hardboiled egg Fresh basil leaves Cherry tomatoes Chives Pitted olives Capsicum

DID YOU KNOW?

METHOD 1 2

Ask an adult to help you heat the oven to 180°C.

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With the help of an adult, cut two slices of mozzarella cheese.

Place two in the middle as cheeks.

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Peel the boiled egg and cut in half. Place the halves at the top of the pizza (as ears) and add a basil leaf to the middle of both.

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Cut a cherry tomato in half and place in between the mozzarella slices (as the nose). Add chives to the nose as whiskers.

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lice a pitted olive in half and place both halves above the S mozzarella slices. Cut a slice of capsicum for the mouth.

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lace in the oven for 10 mins or until the cheese is melted P and the base is cooked.

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You’ve made a Red Panda pizza!

lace the flatbread or muffin on a baking tray lined with P baking paper. Spread tomato paste over the flatbread or muffin.

FROG

TIP

Add pepper oni and pineapple to your ingredients list if you want to mak a frog and lio e n pizza too!

RED PANDA

The Red Pandas at Melbourne Zoo love figs!

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Ask an adult for help turning on the oven and taking out hot things.

LION

FRUIT ECHIDNA Chop your favourite fruit up into shapes to create a pictureperfect snack.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED A variety of fruit such as watermelon, strawberries, rockmelon, grapes and bananas Wooden skewers H alf an empty watermelon shell

3 Alternating fruit, thread the pieces onto the wooden skewers.

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Cut the top off the strawberries and peel the banana – then chop it into thick pieces.

Cut up your watermelon and rockmelon into different shapes (keep them about the same size as the strawberries).

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Place your skewers on a plate, in a jug or you can get creative with the empty watermelon shell.

Push the pointy ends of your skewers into the shell of a watermelon.

It’s a fruit echidna!

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CONGRATULATIONS to our winners!

WOW! THANKS FOR YOUR ENTRIES To enter our next competition, send your picture to: zooperkids@zoo.org.au

OR

MACY

ELEPHANT PACK WINNER

ANNIK

ORANGUTAN PACK WINNER

AGED 7

Zooper Kids Magazine PO Box 74, Parkville VIC 3052

See back page for all the competition details

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AGED 3

BUTTERFLY PACK WINNER

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Puzzle

AGED 7

ROCKY

ANSWERS AMENDMENT TO AUTUMN 2022 ISSUE, pg 3 We would like to apologise for the mistakes in the elephant crossword puzzle in the last edition of Zooper Kids. For an updated version of the puzzle go to we.tl/t-wt6rW9484z

MATCH THE FOOD TO THE ANIMAL, pg 3 Echidna: ants, earthworms Platypus: shrimps, tadpoles, water bugs Snake: small frogs, mice Kangaroo: leaves, grass Koala: eucalyptus leaves

AGED 5

RIVER

MARINE PACK WINNER

We love getting your pictures and letters.

ZOOPER KIDS

GARDENING CLUB

BUTTERFLY FRIENDLY GARDENS Spend this winter getting your garden butterfly ready for spring.

Here is a guide for attracting butterflies to your garden.

PICK THE RIGHT SPOT Much like flowers, butterflies love basking in the sunshine. Pick a sunny spot in your garden to create a butterflyfriendly patch.

ADD SOME WATER Butterflies love water!

Encourage them into your backyard with a small birdbath located near your butterfly-friendly plants.

CHOOSE YOUR PLANTS Native Australian butterflies love native flowering plants like wattle, bottle brush, Kangaroo paw and grevillea. These plants will have vibrant flowers that provide lots of nectar for our winged friends.

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HOW TO MAKE MILK BOTTLE PLANTERS

Turn your empty milk bottles into pots for your butterfly and bee-friendly plants. Make sure you ask an adult to help with this activity.

STEPS CATERPILLAR FRIENDLY LEAVES Where there are butterflies, you’ll probably find caterpillars too. Make sure you’ve planted some green, leafy plants – such as parsley, citrus trees and passionfruit vines – for them to nibble on before becoming butterflies.

DID YOU KNOW? Butterflies are natural pollinators. This means they will transfer pollen from one flower to another, encouraging fruit and vegetable plants and trees to grow produce.

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Take a clean 2L plastic milk bottle, cut off the top half.

Decorate the outside of the bottle using paint.

Ask an adult for help!

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Using a screwdriver, pierce four holes in the bottom of the bottle.

Fill with soil and plant your flower seeds or seedlings.

Make sure you water your seedlings every day and watch them grow!

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COMPETITION TIME!

FIGHTING EXTINCTION READERS PRIZE PACKS

Learn all about the Victorian animals facing extinction with these picture books, exclusive to this competition.

Good LUCK!

GIVEAWAY!

10 SETS OF 5 FANTASTIC BOOKS TO GIVE AWAY FOR THIS ISSUE…

If you’d like a chance to win, send a letter or drawing to enter.

Send yours to: zooperkids@zoo.org.au

OR Zooper Kids Magazine PO Box 74, Parkville VIC 3052

ENtries close Sunday 17 July 2022 This competition is open to Zoos Victoria Members under the age of 18 with consent of a parent/guardian.

Entries will be judged on individual merit and winners notified by phone or email. All entries become the property of Zoos Victoria and will not be returned to the entrants. Prizes are subject to change and cannot be transferred or redeemed for cash. Winners will be announced in the next edition of Zooper Kids.