Comparing Polar Bear Habitats

Grade 2 students at Clairlea PS had a great time learning more about polar bear adaptations during their recent Keep It Wild workshop. They got to experiment with blubber mitts to see how polar bears are insulated against icy waters, and to discover how polar bears migrate across the frozen ice in search of seals.      Then they compared the habitat of Yupi, a polar bear in captivity in Mexico, with the natural habitat of the polar bear. 

A Polar Bear catching a Seal at a breathing hole (by Aryan)

Yupi in captivity (by Aryan) 

Comparing a wild habitat with a captive one (by Isobelle) 

Polar Bears travelling in the wild  (by Tom)

Students used persuasive writing to send a message to the zoo in Mexico. Many students suggested sending Yupi to a polar bear sanctuary in Northern Ontario (Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat). 

       Ryder's message said:

          Let Yupi out of the zoo. She might be sad, bored, hot, trapped, and unhappy. 

Thanks for your great work learning more about wild animals and helping Yupi the polar bear! 

Keep It Wild visits K-W March Break Camp

Animaniacs Camp in Kitchener-Waterloo invited Keep It Wild to their March Break Camp this week. Kids had a great time learning more about polar bears in the wild, and finding out how they can get involved in a campaign to get Yupi the Polar Bear moved from Mexico to a more suitable habitat.

Check out some of other the great educational programs and camps the KW Humane Society offers to help kids learn more about animals here

A video to help polar bears

Check out this great video by students at Davyhulme primary school in the UK. After learning about Yupi the polar bear's situation the students wanted to do something to help. They are hoping to raise awareness about the issue of polar bears in captivity in hot climates. What a fantastic and inspiring video. Thanks for trying to help the animals! 

Cycling for Elephants in China

A student cycling team in China is raising public awareness about elephant poaching during their bike tour across Shandong province this month.. They will urge the Chinese public to not purchase ivory through this campaign. Learn more through Humane Society International, which is sponsoring the event. The students hope that they can demonstrate their sympathy for the plight of elephants, and their commitment to be a part of the global effort to stop the ivory trade. Organizers for the event are concerned about the lack of progress China has made towards banning the ivory trade. 

What do Kids Learn at the Zoo?

Are zoos educational? A recent study at the London Zoo set out to answer this question. Children between the ages of 7 and 15 were questioned before and after their visit to the zoo. 

The researchers found that almost 60% of children who took an educator-guided tour had NO positive educational outcomes. For children who went on an unguided visit, this number jumped to 66%. This study suggest that zoos are not the way for students to learn about conservation and biology, or to change attitudes towards wildlife.

The study also indicated that negative changes in children's understanding of animals and their habitats were prevalent, especially on unguided visits to the zoo. 

See a summary of the study here.

Opened Cages: A Wild Celebration

Join Zoocheck's 30th Anniversary Celebration at Pawsway in Toronto on Saturday November 22nd. We will be honouring thirty great years of wild animal protection. Tickets are $50 and are available at zoocheck.com or by calling 416-285-1744. The evening will include entertainment, special guests, yummy vegan treats and a silent auction. And children 12 and under are free!