ZooperKids Spring 2025

SPRING ISSUE 2025

Spring

BAVAE BARIERIVSED

H

page 2

Southern Bent-Wing bat

bliss BALLS page 10

• • • Be an Craft a Go on a INSIDE » walkie-talkie open range flower walk INSIDE » observer 4 18 14 01_SPR25_Cover_Final.indd 1

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SPRING has SPRUNG LEARN ALL ABOUT ANIMAL BABIES

NEW ARRIVALS We’ve recently welcomed some exciting new additions to your zoos...

Lupo: The two-and-a-half year old South American Tapir joined the Melbourne Zoo family from Austria.

Kangaroo joeys:

LION

Meet Zach and Bree, the Kangaroo Island Kangaroo joeys hopping around Melbourne Zoo.

MATCH THE ANIMAL

BUTTERFLY

to the

ELEPHANT

NAME GIVEN TO ITS OFFSPRING CUB

FISH

JOEY

PUP

CALF

LARVA

FRY

SEAL KANGAROO

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 Dallas Budde & Natalie Lachina PRINTER Finsbury Green

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

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QUIZ TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT WHICH SPRING BABY YOU WOULD BE 1 What’s the first thing you do in the morning?

4 You spend the most time with…

A Cuddle into the blanket for some more sleep.

B Run to the kitchen for breakfast.

C Choose your favourite c the r the a .

D Play, play play!

2 Your favourite food usually includes…

3 What are your favourite clothes to wear?

A A glass of milk or a yoghurt.

B Fruit! Berries, bananas and apples, it doesn’t matter the .

C Lots of veggies and a sweet treat t h.

D Meat please: chicken nuggets, ham sandwich or spaghetti bolognese.

A Pants with lots of pockets for storing treasures.

B Stripes and spots.

C The brighter the colours the etter.

D Practical clothes for running, jumping and climbing.

A Your mum, you love her cu e .

B Your dad, you could follow him everywhere.

C By yourself, you love your own company.

D With your aunties, grandparents or your wh e am .

5 What’s your favourite sport?

A Games that include jumping high such as basketball or netball.

B Running races where you can show off your speed.

C Activities where you can climb, swing and balance.

D Team sports like soccer, AFL or netball.

TALLY UP YOUR ANSWERS: Your spring baby is…

KANGAROO JOEY

EMU CHICK

FIJIAN CRESTED IGUANA

LION CUB

MOSTLY A’s

MOSTLY B’s

MOSTLY C’s

MOSTLY D’s

You’re a cuddly kangaroo joey. Joeys spend most of the first 10 months of their life in their mother’s cosy pouch. They drink milk from their mum and only begin to venture outside her pouch at four months old – although they don’t go very far.

You’re a fluffy emu chick. They may not be able to fly but they can sure run fast (reaching a speed of 50km/h). Once hatched from their eggs, emu chicks stay close to their dads for up to six months. They eat seeds, fruit flowers and young shoots from plants.

You’re a vibrant Fijian Crested Iguana. These brightly coloured lizards are dark green when hatching from their eggs but change to a bright emerald green, with white bands, after several hours. They eat mostly leaves and fruit and particularly enjoy sweet hibiscus flowers.

You’re a bouncy lion cub. Lion cubs are born with their eyes closed (they open 3–11 days after birth). Their mother carries them around by the top of their neck in her mouth until they can walk on their own. In a lion pride the females (aunties) help raise cubs together.

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tin can MAKE YOUR OWN

WALKIEE W TTALKIEE COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR BESTIE WITH TIN CANS AND STRING

1

2

3

Get an adult to make a small hole in the bottom of each can by lightly tapping the nail through its centre using a hammer. Wiggle the nail to make a hole and then remove it.

Decorate the cans using the paint and paint brushes. You could paint it to look like your favourite animal (zebra stripes, spots for a giraffe or vibrant colours like a parrot).

Cut a long piece of string (you can experiment with the length of the string but try at least 1 metre).

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

4

5

Feed the ends of the tr thr u h each ca a tie a knot on the inside to secure it.

With a friend or sibling, stretch the string out tight and take turns talking into the can while the other listens.

Can you hear each other?

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2 x empty tin cans (washed) String Ask an adult A nail for help using a hammer and Hammer scissors Paintbrushes & paint (optional) Scissors

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adult sing a and rs

FAMILY GAME NIGHT This four-person game will make any night of the week fun.

HOW TO PLAY

WHAT YOU’LL NEED A hat or bowl Blank strips of paper Paper for keeping score

Pens Timer

THE SETUP 1

Give each player three strips of paper and a pen. Ask them to write a different animal on each strip of paper (don’t show any of your teammates).

2

Everyone places their paper strips into the bowl. Break into tw team .

ROUND 1 3

The youngest player goes first and chooses a slip out of the bowl. Players describe to their team what’s on the paper using any word except the one written. Players have one minute for their team to guess the animal; then the other team can guess. The team that guesses first gets a point. Teams take turns u t the a er tr are e.

ROUND 2 4

Think fast!

Players have one minute to guess the answer!

Place all the paper strips back in the bowl. Follow the same rules as above, except this time players must mime (no sounds) the word on the paper strip.

ROUND 3 5

DID YOU KNOW?

Dingoes communicate with each other mostly through howling – while – White rhinos communicate using the scent of their dung piles

– And – Gorillas often hum or grunt while eating. They may do this to show they are enjoying themselves and to signal that they don’t want to be disturbed.

Same rules as above but this time players can only use a sound to describe the animal on the a er tr .

THE WINNER

THE TEAM THAT HAS THE MOST POINTS ACCUMULATED AT THE END WINS.

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6/8/2025 3:09 pm

Go Wild GET OUTSIDE

Want to support the survival of the planet’s most special animals?

Raise money that will go towards local threatened species conservation.

Helping save some of your favourite species is as easy as A – Z.

A

Z

Art Show

Zoo Clue Trail

Create a gallery of your artwork in your backyard and invite your friends and family to attend and purchase.

Create an animal-themed scavenger hunt in your backyard, local park, or even during a zoo visit. Include clues or challenges related to different animals, and ask for a at t art c ate.

Scan for our full list of fundraising ideas, or go to wild-week.raiselysite.com/atoz

from A—Z:

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d l i w o G

raise funds

Go WILD and raise funds for threatened species

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MAKE YOUR OWN

Jellyfish PINATA

Make your own jellyfish pinata for a birthday party or playdate with friends.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED Medium-sized bowl PVA glue Water Plastic or stainlesssteel mixing bowl Recycled plastic bag Old newspaper Cord or string Green and blue coloured streamers Pencil Scissors White, black and coloured paper Lollies, toys or eco-friendly prizes to fill the pinata

SEE THEM NOW

8

VISIT THE MOON JELLYFISH AT MELBOURNE ZOO’S WILD SEA.

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STEPS

1 Add two parts PVA glue and one part water to a mediumsized bowl and mix together until combined.

2

3

Cut your newspaper into long strips. Use the recycled plastic bag to cover your bowl th w t the a er mâché from sticking to it.

Dip the newspaper strips in the glue so they are completely coated. Lay the strips vertically onto the outside of the upturned mixing bowl. It’s important this is a bowl and not a balloon.

6/8/2025 4:45 pm

4

5

6

Repeat the process of laying the glue-covered strips on the outside of the bowl until the whole bowl is covered. Allow to dry. Once the outer layer is dry, add another layer of glue-covered strips to the bowl to make the structure stronger.

Once the paper mâché is completely dry, gently remove it from the bowl. Ask an adult to puncture two holes at the top. Thread a piece of string through each hole and tie knots to secure.

Fill the pinata with your chosen goodies, like lollies small toys or other eco-friendly prizes.

7

8

9

Place the mixing bowl upside down on the white paper and trace around it. Cut out a circle that is slightly larger than the w .

Cut tabs around the circle’s edge, then fold and glue them onto the paper mâché.

This will stop the treats from falling out.

Cut 2cm slits along your streamers to create a fringe.

Apply glue to the uncut edge and wrap it around the pinata until fully covered.

10

11

12

Decorate the paper mâché by cutting out eyes and a mouth from black and white paper and sticking them on. Add spots or any embellishments you like using coloured paper.

Cut strips of streamers and attach them to the bottom of your jellyfish to resemble tentacles.

Gather your friends, grab a large stick (or broom handle) and a blindfold and take turns whacking the pinata until the treat a ut.

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ZOOPER KITCHEN

BAT blissBALLS MAKE SOME SOUTHERN BENT-WING BAT BLISS BALLS

WHAT YOU’LL NEED 1 x cup raw almonds ½ cup sunflower seeds 2 x tbsp cocoa powder 1 x tbsp coconut oil 1 x cup medjool dates (pitted) ¾ cup frozen raspberries Hot water Fruit straps Knife

10

Remember to always ask an adult to help in the kitchen.

10-11_ZK15_ZooperKitchen Js ed.indd 10

This recipe contains nuts!

STEPS

1

2

Blitz the raw almonds and sunflower seeds together in a food processor until finely ground.

Add the cocoa powder and quickly blitz until mixed.

6/8/2025 5:03 pm

SOUTHERN BENT-WING BAT FACTS 3

4

Add the dates, coconut oil and frozen raspberries to the food processor and blitz until it’s chopped. The mixture will be sticky and clumpy.

Slowly add one teaspoon of hot water at a time as you blitz. Stop when the mixture is smoother and comes together.

Be careful not to add too much water.

They are tiny microbats (52–58mm long)

Critically Endangered and only found in caves in south-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia

5

6

Place cocoa powder into a separate bowl and set aside.

Scoop one tablespoon of the mixture at a time and roll into balls. Roll each ball in the cocoa powder until well coated and place on a plate.

Use a knife to carefully cut bat wing shapes from the fruit strap.

Eats a variety of insects but mostly prefer moths

7

8

Make a small slit on either side of the ball and insert the end of each bat wing into the openings.

Chop up some almonds to make the eyes, roll a small bit of the leftover mixture into tiny pupils, add two almond slivers for fangs and enjoy.

They use sound echoes to navigate and find food at night.

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Remember to always ask an adult to help when using scissors.

CA

T

ER

Craft a creepy crawly caterpillar out of paper

PIL

T F A R C

LAR WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Watch me crawl!

Green craft paper 3 x different colours of craft paper Black craft paper Scissors Black felt pen Glue

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STEPS

1

2

3

Draw a large leaf on the green craft paper. Cut out the leaf using the scissors.

Measure 6 rectangles (6cm x 12cm) using the different coloured craft paper. Cut them out using scissors.

Cut out two antennae from the black craft paper.

4

5

6

Take one of the coloured rectangles and fold it over to make a cylinder shape. Glue the ends together. Repeat with all of the rectangles.

Cut antennae from the black craft paper. Draw eyes and a mouth on one of the rectangles. Glue the antennae above the eyes.

Glue the cylinders t ether a e side facing each other.

7

8

9

Cut a long strip of green craft paper (about 30cm). Glue one end of the strip to the bottom of the face end of the caterpillar and glue the other end of the caterpillar halfway down the green strip.

Glue the bottom of the caterpillar on the leaf (either side of the green strip).

When you pull the bottom of the green strip the caterpillar should appear to be crawling on the leaf.

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Be an OPEN RANGE OBSERVER Keepers and scientists observe animals to learn about their behaviour and improve their welfare. Record your observations next time you’re at Werribee Open Range Zoo, just like wildlife researchers do.

WERRIBEE OPEN RANGE ZOO

African Wild Dogs

Lions Orange-bellied Parrot Aviary

Coffee Grounds Picnic Area Koala Tree Playspace

Koim (Kangaroo)

Monk Play

Kurboroo (Koala) Coolup (Emu)

African Village Dance Party

Tammar Wimba (Wallaby) Native Grasslands

Boollam Boollam (Butterfly) Garden

Village Kids

Village Kitchen

Billabong

Ranger Kids Leopard Tortoise

Reptiles Slumber Safari

EXIT

OBSERVER Elephant

FIRST NAME

Elephant Herd Barn Viewing

AGE

Elephant Terrace

Elephant

Waterhole Cafe

SUBURB

Os

DATE OF VISIT Elephant

SEASON WEATHER CONDITIONS

HINT:

DIFFERENT BEHAVIOURS TO NOTE MIGHT INCLUDE SLEEPING

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EATING

OBSERVATIONS

Kubu Queen

Dig Pit

Hippos

Ranger Community Centre

African Wild Dogs

Hippo Beach & Water Play

Coffee Grounds Picnic Area

Camels

Cat Maze

Cheetah

Asian Wild Horse

Habitat Name Behaviour observed

Bison Zebras Rhinos

Gorillas Bush Babies Adventure Trail

llage Kids

Safari Station

See the animals of the savannah on a Safari Tour

CHEETAH Time seen

No. of animals

Habitat Name

Lake

Ranger Kids Leopard Tortoise

Meerkat Bistro & Function Centre Zoo shop

EXIT

ENTRY

Through to Waterhole Trail & Elephant Trail Shuttle Buggy Departure Point To elephants Meerkats (Waterhole Trail)

EXIT OBSERVATION

*Trail orientation is not aligned to main map

Premium Safari Experiences

Time seen

HIPPOPOTAMUS No. of animals

Habitat Name Behaviour observed

LEOPARD TORTOISE

Shuttle Buggy drop off and pick up

Behaviour observed

Time seen

Before you exit Werribee Open a Park e t r et t a a Car t t the

MEERKAT Camel

No. of animals

Time seen

No. of animals

Playspace

ephant rrace

Habitat Name

Waterhole afe

EEPING

No. of animals

Ostriches

frican illage ce Party

ge en

ZEBRA Time seen

Giraffe

Crazy About Cats Meeting Point

Vervet Monkeys

No. of animals

Behaviour observed

Hippo Beach Café

Antelopes

Monkey Play

RHINOCEROS Time seen

Habitat Name

Hippo Play Trail

Ranger Village

a Tree space

START RECORDING YOUR OBSERVATIONS HERE!

Oryx

Habitat Name

Zebra

Playspace

Behaviour observed

Behaviour observed

Playspace

Ostrich

ELEPHANT

Nyala

Time seen

No. of animals

Habitat Name

EATING RUNNING

WALLOWING IN MUD BATHS OR PLAYING

Behaviour observed

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CONGRATULATIONS to our winners!

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

OR Zooper Kids Magazine PO Box 74, Parkville VIC 3052

AMELIA VET PACK

AGED 11

ELEPHANT CALF PACK

OR Post in the entry box at Melbourne Zoo.

See back page for all the competition details.

LILY

AGED 3

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AGED 5

KEEPERS PICKS

ELEPHANT PACK

Or visit Keeper Kids at Melbourne Zoo to see the gallery wall.

SCAN

JOEY

PUP

CALF

LARVA

FRY

(pg 2)

NAME GIVEN TO ITS OFFSPRING

to the

MATCH THE ANIMAL AGED 7

GIRAFFE PACK

Puzzle

HAZEL

ANSWERS

3

ADRIANA

Scan the QR code below to see if you’re one of our

CUB

Y

We love getting your pictures and letters.

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6/8/2025 12:16 pm

ZOOPER KIDS

GARDENING CLUB

FLOWER lks wa

Collect a bouquet of fresh flowers during your next spring walk.

STEPS

1

2

3

Draw a vase shape on your piece of cardboard. Make sure the top of the vase finishes halfway up the cardboard. This will allow you to fill the vase with flowers.

Take your pencil and poke holes through the cardboard – above the vase shape. These will be for the flowers you find on your walk.

Take a walk with your friends or family members and collect spring flowers along the way.

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GARDEN PLANTING Plant these native Australian plants in your garden for some beautiful spring flowers.

WHAT YOU’LL N

EED

Rectangle piece of cardboard Pencil Black felt tip-pen A collection of spring flowers

4 Poke the stems of the flowers through the holes in your cardboard.

When you’re finished your walk u w ha e a a e u c ur u m .

Kangaroo paw

Little sapphire

The floral emblem of Western Australia, these beautiful native flowers can be planted all year round – but they tend to flower in spring. They prefer dry climates, sandy soil and lots of watering.

These shrubs will stay green all year round, with flowers blooming in spring. Plant them in a well-drained, sunny spot, with a little shade. e br t ur le lo er will be worth the wait.

Native honeysuckle

Billy buttons

Pollinators love this flowering vine. Plant it near to something it can climb up and in a sunny spot (part shade is also fine). First Nations people used this plant (called Tarrtjan) as a treatment of colds and sore throats.

You can easily grow these bright yellow pom-pom flowers from seed. Sprinkle the seeds over the soil, lightly rake the soil over the top and water them (daily). You should see sprouts poking through the soil one to t ree ee a ter lant n .

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COMPETITION TIME! GIVEAWAY!

WE HAVE FOUR FANTASTIC PRIZE PACKS TO GIVE AWAY THIS ISSUE…

BIRD PACK

ECO-HERO PACK

$75 VALUE

UNDERWATER $61 VALUE

To enter: 1 Complete a drawing

$59 VALUE

POLLINATORS PACK

PACK

$80 VALUE

2

3

Send your drawing to:

Remember to include your name & address with your entry so that we can contact you!

zooperkids@zoo.org.au

OR

OR Post in the entry box at the Membership Booth at Melbourne Zoo.

GOOD LUCK

Zooper Kids Magazine PO Box 74, Parkville VIC 3052

Entries close Sunday, 7 December 2025 so get cracking!

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.

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