JUNIOR WILDLIFE MAGAZINE VOLUME 15 2018 Hi Everyone, Happy New Year. I hope you all have had a wonderful year. I would like to thank the following people who sent me text messages: Rejocie Chikwandaw from Nkulumane High School, Thembelani Ncube also from Nkulumane High, Donald Dube from Whitewater High School. Mighty Ndlovu from Nechilibi High, Matheu Maswuku who is also from Whitewaters High and Prosper Nyathi from Lupote Secondary School. Tino at Nechibondo Primary School, and Precious Chuma from Songwa Primary School. Thank you all for your kind words. Mr.Nqobile Ngwenya, of Mtshabezi Primary School, thank for your kind words. Thank you all so much I really do love hearing from you all. Please text (SMS) us on phone number 077 732 7921 but please do not phone as we do not answer phone calls, text only. DO YOU KNOW??? Answers to questions in BushBeat volume 14: 1c, 2a, 3c, 4a, 5a, Taken from the WEZ SCHOOLS QUIZ 2015 MATABELELAND BRANCH) 1. Which member of the cat family has semi-retractable claws? a. Cheetah b, Leopard c. Lion 2. What does it mean if an insect is described as ALATE? a. It has wings, b, it had 8 legs, c. it has feathers 3. What is HERPETOLOGY? 4. When do diurnal animals sleep? a. At night, b. In the day, c. In the morning and evening only. 5. What is OLOGY? a. Study of eggs, b. Study of Zoos c. Study of frogs. ANSWERS SEE PAGE 7 Page 1
O = ORIBI. Oribis occur solitarily, in pairs or family parties of a male and up to two females and their offspring. The Family parties sometimes join up temporarily to form small herds. Oribi are predominantly grazers and have a preference for fresh sprouting grass after a burn. The main lambing season is in the summer after a gestation period of 210 days. P=PAPER WASP or Social Wasps SOCIAL WASP (paper wasps) (20-30 mm): These have brownish and white marking with a typical wasp appearance. These social insect live in communities, consisting of fertilised queens, unfertilised workers and males. material mixed with saliva) suspended from an overhanging ledge or roof, and lays an egg in each cell. She feeds the the larvae are fully grown and ready to pupate, seals off each cell f disturbed the workers can deliver a very painful sting, which sometimes can be life- threatening for someone who is allergic to stings. Q= QUININE TREE large streams and the margins of evergreen forests. The bark is soft and cork-like and breaks up green and when mature dark brown to black brown. Page 2
Lilacbreasted Roller Length: About 36 cm, Best habitat: Thornveld areas. Food: Insects, small reptiles, scorpions and small birds. Breeding: Nests in natural holes in trees. 2 or 3 eggs. The roller likes to sit on poles or on the top of trees. Ground Hornbill Secretary Bird Standing Height: About 90 cm. Best habitat: Open grassland. Food: Snakes and other reptiles, game birds' eggs, small tortoises, small mammals. Breeding: Nests on top of thorn trees. Usually 2 eggs laid. Standing height: About 70 cm. Best habitat: Open country. Food: Insects, frogs, snakes and lizards, rats and mice. Breeding: Lays on the ground. Usually 2 eggs. The Ground hornbill is a vulnerable bird. Bee-eater Nest in holes up to one metre deep in riverbanks or soft cliff faces.the young remain in the holes until old enough to. Page 3
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WATER AND POLLUTION It is raining, now there is plenty of water, in fact in places too much and it and livestock. But wait a moment. Is there enough clean water for drinking? Did you know that one of our most precious natural resources is water? Water is a resource that cannot be increased and as the population increases there is more and more demand on our water resources. This is why we must take better care,protect and manage it better. Did you know that one of our biggest sources of health problems is the lack of SAFE drinking water? 5 days without water. bathing, drinking and cleaning per day. probably about 10 liters, or even less per day. FOR YOU TO DO Make a chart showing how much water you use in your home and how it is used. Example: Here you could make another chart and compare it with your classmates or other friends. How much time do you spend collecting water if it is not in your home? These are just a few suggestions to get you thinking. other uses washing Drinking cooking Always remember that water is a very precious resource and without it none of us would survive. Page 6
Vervet Monkey Best habitat: Woodland areas. Often near water. Food: Fruits, berries, grass seeds, insects, birds' egg s, small birds. Number of young: One. Enemies: Eagles, leopard, pythons. Alarm call: A sharp 'Chap'. Baboon Best habitat: Woodlands or kranzes. Trees or sheer cliffs are needed to escape from danger. Food: Roots, berries, fruits, birds' eggs, young birds, sometimes mice, and young antelope. Number of young: Usually one. Enemies: The leopard is the chief enemy of the baboon. Lion also occasionally kill baboon. Alarm call: A loud 'Wha hoo'. Also various squeals and grunts....; ANSWERS TO DO YOU KNOW? 1a Cheetah, 2a it has wings, 3b Study of reptiles and amphibians, 4a At night, 5a Study of eggs Page 7
How Jackal got His Markings A long, long time ago the Creator of everything became angry at the way Jackal was always tormenting the other animals with his tricks. The Creator was really very angry and decided he must teach the Jackal a lesson. He decided to disguise himself as a young boy. The boy asked Jackal to please give him a ride on his back, as he was lost and very tired and could not walk any further. If Jackal would give him a ride to the village, he said, he would give Jackal a goat in payment for his kindness. So Jackal let the boy climb on his back and set off to the village. All the time Jackal was planning how he could trick the boy into giving him not just one goat, but the whole herd. Jackals coat ablaze. on his way, very shaken and humbled. And that is why, to this day, the jackal has black marks along his body and silver ashes on his back. Now all the animals can see that he was punished by the Creator for all his wicked ways. Page 8 printed by DP Printmedia Bulawayo. 29 78831