RHINO fun!
LEARN ABOUT THE SOUTHERN WHITE RHINOCEROS AND PRACTICE YOUR DRAWING SKILLS.
NAME: Southern White Rhinoceros
HABITAT:
Savannah and grassland areas in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
CONSERVATION STATUS: NEAR THREATENED
Southern White Rhinoceros are listed as Near Threatened.
Zoos Victoria PO Box 74, Parkville VIC 3052 P 03 9340 2780
E members@zoo.org.au W zoo.org.au
Zooper Kids is published for Zoos Victoria by Heads & Tales, a Hardie Grant Media agency.
MANAGING DIRECTOR Rod Mooseek
ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Scott Elmslie
EDITOR Georgia Lejeune
ART DIRECTOR Dallas Budde
DESIGN Natalie Lachina and Robert Bertagni
PRINTER Finsbury Green
FSC mix logo to be placed here
HOW TO DRAW A RHINO
Draw on the legs Add hooves
in your drawing Draw a horn Draw the head
MEET JABULANI
The latest addition to the Southern White Rhinoceros herd on the savannah at Werribee Open Range Zoo is the energetic calf Jabulani. His mother Kipenzi is still keeping a close eye on him as he explores the savannah and interacts with his neighbours.
Bluey and her friends are coming to Melbourne Zoo from Saturday 8 March until Sunday 30 March and it’s FREE for members!
Visit zoo.org.au/bluey for everything you need to know.
PLAYDOUGH
2 cups plain flour
¾ cup table salt
4 tsp cream of tartar
2 tblsp vegetable oil
2 cups lukewarm water
Biodegradable gloves
Natural food colouring
2 1
In a large pot combine the flour, salt and cream of tartar. Add the vegetable oil and water and stir to combine. Ask an adult to place the pot on the stove.
Ask an adult to help you stir to combine until the dough thickens and eventually comes together to
6 5 4
Roll the separate pieces into balls. Push your thumb into the centre of each ball to create an indent.
Put your biodegradable gloves on to protect your hands from the colour. Put five drops of your chosen food colouring into each of the balls.
evenly. If the colour isn’t bright enough, add one or two more drops of food colouring.
Remember to always ask an adult to help when using a stove.
3
Once cooled, divide the dough into evenly sized pieces. The number of pieces you separate depends on how many colours you’d like to make.
TRY THESE
BUTTERFLY
Visit the Butterfly House at Melbourne Zoo to get some inspiration for your butterfly playdough. You could use green, yellow, black and red to make a Cairns Birdwing butterfly or vibrant blue and black for the Ulysses butterfly.
Store your playdough in an airtight container. It should last for up to three months.
place to rest and feed with some brightly coloured flowers. You can make a bouquet of beautiful blooms using lots of colours.
BEE
Using black and yellow playdough, create your very own European honeybee. Or, if you want to get creative, you could try making a native bee such as a Blue-banded bee.
DID YOU KNOW?
are important in the growing the food we eat! Bees, butterflies, moths help to transfer one plant to another, which pollinates flowers that then turn into fruit and vegetables.
Australia’s native Blue-banded Bee
FIND your own WAY
Use this guide during your visit to our zoos to find quiet spaces and easily accessible areas.
We all experience the world in different ways. Some people might find walking difficult – so they use a wheelchair or walking stick to help them move around. Some people might find sounds and smells louder or stronger compared to other people – and that can be scary and confusing. The way you explore the zoo might be different to your friends or family, but we still want to make sure you have a good time.
BUSY AREAS
There are areas around your zoos that can get busy with people. These can include the entrances, safari bus station and popular animal habitats during keeper talks. Quieter times to visit your favourite animals include the morning (when the gates open) or the afternoon.
LOUD NOISES
KEEPER TALKS ANY TIME
Did you know you can scan a QR code at some animal habitats to watch the Keeper Talks on your phone? Or visit our website and watch them when you get home.
Some animals at your zoos can be noisier than others. The Siamangs at Melbourne Zoo can be particularly loud in the morning –they have inflatable throat sacs that help them call to each other. The Land of Parrots at Healesville Sanctuary is often a loud habitat to visit – as the parrots love making lots of happy screeches and tweets. You may also notice some Zoos Victoria staff members driving buggies around – they help our staff get around the zoos faster. These buggies will make a beeping noise as they go past.
LOW LIGHT
Some of our animals (particularly the nocturnal ones) prefer dark habitats. This might mean that it’s difficult to see when you walk through their homes.
STRONG SMELLS
Animals can be smelly! Thankfully most of our habitats are outside and our animals are far enough away that their smells won’t be too strong.
FREE RANGING ANIMALS
Some of our habitats encourage free roaming for our animals. That means the animals can go wherever they like within the habitat area. We need to make sure we stay at least 1.5 metres away from these animals to help them feel safe. Roped-off areas give our animals a place to go when they need to be away from humans. You will need to stay on the path behind those ropes at all times. You might be able to hear rules for these habitats played from a speaker or written on a sign.
You can download free site maps to each of your four zoos which include a handy sensory key.
CHOCOLATE BARK
Whether you’re making it for Easter or to share with friends, this easy chocolate bark can be decorated with your favourite nuts and fruit.
TOP I T UP
You can mix and match the toppings on your chocolate bark. Keep it healthy with some dried cranberries, candied ginger and walnuts or make it more of a treat by using small easter eggs or smarties (for a bit of colour).
150g milk chocolate
50g white chocolate
¼ cup of roasted cashews (chopped)
¼ cup of roasted almonds (chopped)
½ cup freeze-dried raspberries
WHAT YOU’LL NEED STEPS
I eat bark and leaves!
DID YOU KNOW?
Our mob of kangaroos comes from Kangaroo Island in South Australia where winters are cold. This is why their fur is thicker and denser than most other kangaroos. They eat lots of different things including the bark from leafy branches.
Place the milk chocolate and white chocolate in separate microwavesafe bowls. One at a time, place the bowl in the microwave and heat it for 30 seconds (stir in between) until it’s melted.
4 5 6 3 1 2
Drizzle the white chocolate around the rectangle shape. Then use the end of your spoon to swirl the two chocolates into a marble pattern.
Let the chocolate cool for 10 minutes. While it’s cooling, line a flat tray with baking paper.
Pour the milk chocolate onto the tray and use a spoon to spread it around evenly so that it forms a rectangle shape.
Remember to always ask an adult to help you chop ingredients.
Sprinkle the chopped cashews, almonds and freeze-dried raspberries over the top of the chocolate.
Place in the fridge until it’s set. Once set, break the chocolate bark into shards and eat straight away or put it in an airtight container for later.
ANIMAL
GET TRICKY WITH THESE ANIMAL WORD GAMES.
word play ANIMAL
ANAGRAMS
Rearrange the letters of the words below to guess the animal. We’ve given you some hints to help find the right word.
True or false: Mountain Pygmy-possums hibernate throughout winter.
Approximately how many Southern Corroboree Frogs remain in the wild?
Test your knowledge of some of our tiniest creatures by completing the quiz below.
Amphibians (such as frogs) are cold blooded. What is their source of heat?
Where can you see adult Australian Leaf Insects at Melbourne Zoo?
Read
creatures
What colour are baby Veiled Chameleons?
Why do the keepers need to be careful when caring for Rock Orb-weaver spiderlings (baby spiders)?
WORD SEARCH
Find the animals below in the word search. They could be spelled forwards, backwards, horizontal and vertical.
See page 17 for answers.
PIPER’S POWER
Piper and her friends raised $242 for the Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon campaign.
Twelve-year-old Piper Rolston’s enthusiasm for wildlife conservation is inspiring. When she’s not caring for her many pets – including a Blue Tongue lizard, Bearded dragon and a rabbit (to name a few) – she’s researching and fundraising for endangered species with her friends.
Piper visited Melbourne Zoo to tour the Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon habitat. We asked her a few questions.
What has been your favourite animal to fundraise for?
From a young age, I have always loved snakes and lizards, that’s what got me into the Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon! Currently I love sharks, specifically whale sharks, hammerheads and Wobbegongs.
Why did you decide to fundraise for the Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon?
When the Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon was rediscovered, I didn’t have a clue what it was! But after some research I soon found myself obsessed with this little creature. In a school project I jumped at the chance to do more research, creating an information page about them and soon intriguing my friends and teachers. I just knew I had to take action.
How are you a conservation champion in your everyday life?
I love learning about and researching new species. I also do smaller activities around the house, such as turning unnecessary lights off, putting waste in the correct bin and cleaning our school yards with my little conservation group the Bee Warriors, and I like to help inspire younger groups.
BEE WARRIORS
Piper and some friends started a community group called the Bee Warriors and fundraised, planted trees and even won a community award in 2023.
Look, Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon eggs!
DID YOU KNOW?
The Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon was thought to be Extinct until they were found in 2023. Zoos Victoria has been working hard to breed a strong population that can be released back into the wild.
Visit Keeper Kids at Melbourne Zoo to see them.
To enter our next competition, send your picture to: zooperkids@zoo.org.au OR Zooper Kids Magazine PO Box 74, Parkville VIC 3052 OR Post in the entry box at Melbourne Zoo. See back page for all the competition details.
ZOOPER KIDS GARDENING CLUB
WATER FILTRATION
IN
THE GARDEN
PLANTS, ROCKS AND SOIL CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN KEEPING POLLUTANTS OUT OF OUR
WATERWAYS.
Storm water collects pollutants from the roof and driveway which can be sent to the garden.
DID YOU KNOW?
When it rains and water runs off a roof, driveway or down the street it can carry many pollutants such as rubbish, garden pesticides and other household chemicals. This water can go into our waterways and potentially harm our wildlife. Luckily, we can help filter that water by planting a rain garden.
Water run-off is absorbed through different soil layers to replenish deep native plant roots.
and bird life.
SUBSOIL
RAIN GARDEN SOIL MIX
Clear water enters nearby waterways via the watertable.
Rain gardens attract pollinators such as bees, ladybugs
MULCH LAYER
SCRAP VEGGIE BOX
You can use old vegetables or scraps to grow new plants for your plate.
WHAT IS A RAIN GARDEN?
Rain gardens act similarly to native bush and scrubland by helping to soak up and filter out water that might carry pollutants. The water filters down through the layers of native plants, rocks and soil, making its way to the ocean or fresh water sources.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
Potato skins
Tomato seeds
Celery
Garden bed or veggie box
Potting mix
TIP:
If you don’t have the space to make a rain garden, you could try planting native plants instead. They can help to filter water and will also attract pollinators.
TOMATOES
Save old tomatoes (large or small) and replant the seeds to keep your crop going.
Squeeze out the seeds from the old tomatoes in your fridge.
Rinse the seeds under water to remove some of the gooey outer casing.
Place on a paper towel outside to dry.
Plant them in the soil in a sunny spot and water a few times per week.
REMEBMER
Use gardening gloves when handling potting mix. Rain gardens help our fish and other wildlife enjoy cleaner water.
POTATOES
You don’t need a whole potato to grow these delicious veggies. You can use the peelings from your old potatoes – as long as they have ‘eyes’.
Dry the peels overnight.
Plant them about 16cms under the soil with the ‘eyes’ facing up.
Water over the next few weeks and watch them sprout.
CELERY
Celery is one of the easiest veggies to grow from scraps.
Cut the bottom off a bunch of celery.
Place it (cut part up) in a bowl filled ¼ of the way up with warm water.
Place the bowl in a sunny spot and watch the leaves grow over the next few weeks.
Once leaves have sprouted, plant the celery in the garden.
