July 21st: The Serengeti

African Lion

Lions have been a symbol of strength and power for centuries. They are the second largest big cat, after tigers, and they are a top predator in the Serengeti. Their roars can be heard from five miles away, and the males are known for having large majestic-looking manes. Sometimes female lions grow a smaller mane, and the reason for this is unknown.

Lions are the only cats that live in groups, and these are called prides. Prides are family units that contain up to 40 lions, including 3 or 4 males, a dozen or so females, and the young. All of the lionesses in a pride are related, and the female cubs stay in the same pride, but the males will go off on their own to head their own pride usually by taking over for another male. Adult males generally stay in a pride for about two years before being kicked out by another male.

Lions are very territorial, and males will urinate around the pride’s territory to mark it, and they will chase off any intruders. Female lions are the main hunters of the pride, and they often will work together to take down their prey, which could include; wildebeest, antelope, zebras and other large animals on grasslands. The teamwork is often necessary, as these animals are usually faster than lions. After the hunt, the prey is devoured in an order, which usually consists of the males eating first, then the females, and lastly the cubs.

Today, lions are found in sub-saharan Africa. They tend to stick to the open grasslands where they can easily hunt their prey, but they can live in most habitats except for rainforests and deserts. The only other species of lion, called Asiatic lions, exists in India’s Gir forest, and it is a very small population.

There are many conservation efforts being made to sustain the population of lions in Africa. One that is very recent from 2018 is the translocation project, where 24 lions were moved from South Africa to Mozambique. This was done once the habitat in Mozambique was deemed suitable for lions to reenter the environment, as their populations had been nearly wiped out in the area. The lions were sedated in order to be brought to Mozambique from South Africa, and the project has turned out to be successful as the population of lions has nearly doubled.

For the conservation effort, called 24 lions, check out this website and video: https://www.24lions.org

Rhinoceros

There are several subspecies of rhinos, and these species stem from the black rhino and the white rhino. The difference between the black and the white rhino is not their colour, because both are actually grey, but their lip shape is different due to the differences in what they eat. Black rhinos eat from trees and bushes, plucking off fruit and leaves from branches, whereas white rhinos graze on grass, so their head is lower to the ground. White rhinos are also much larger than black rhinos, and they are the second largest land mammal after elephants.

Black rhinos are solitary, so they live on their own unless a female has a calf in which case the calf will stay with her for about three years before going off on their own. Black rhinos often spend their days in the shade, and will wallow in the watering hole to cool off. They also use the mud from the watering hole as a natural bug repellent and sun block to keep them cool. White rhino sometimes do live in groups, and they graze together on grassy plains.

Rhinos have two horns, and the one in front is much larger. These horns can grow three inches each year, and have been known to grow up to 5 feet long. Males use their horn to battle attackers, and females use it to protect their young. Similar to elephant tusks, the rhino’s horn is very valuable in some parts of the world, and it is used for medicines and decorative objects. This has caused their population to significantly decrease, and most species of rhino are critically endangered.

There are two different subspecies of white rhino; the northern and the southern. There are only two northern white rhinos left in existence, and both are female. Scientists are working on keeping the species alive, which is shown in this video:

Hippopotamus

Hippos are well known for spending much of their time in the water, and they spend up to 16 hours per day in rivers, lakes and watering holes cooling off. They are excellent swimmers, and they are able to hold their breath for up to 5 minutes underwater. Their eyes and nostrils are on the top of their head, which allows them to see and breathe while mostly submerged.

Around sunset, hippos travel on land to graze on grass. They eat up to 80 pounds of grass per day, which is quite low considering their size. Hippos are able to run as fast as a human in times when they need to get away, and they will run to the water to escape predators. Hippos are very territorial, and they stay in groups called schools in order to keep themselves and their young safe. Crocodiles are a predator of young hippos, and so male and female hippos remain aware when in water.

Hippos have a very powerful bite, and it is something that they use to scare off one another as well as other species. This bite is able to break a canoe in half with one snap of their jaws.

Why Elephants Never Forget

July 20th: The Serengeti

The Serengeti is a habitat and ecosystem that is located in northern Tanzania. It is probably the best-known African savanna, or grassland, due to its abundant wildlife populations. Most of the Serengeti is protected as a National Park and as several game reserves, and it is known as one of the wonders of Africa as well as a wonder of the world due to the species that live in the Serengeti.

This region hosts one of the largest mammal migrations in the world, it also has 70 big mammal species that can be found here. These mammals include what is known as the “Big Five.”

The “Big Five” used to be known as the five mammal species that were the most difficult to find and hunt, and considered the most dangerous species in Africa. For trophy hunters, it was a huge accomplishment to hunt one of the big five species. These species include; the African elephant, the African buffalo, the rhinoceros, the lion and the leopard. Today, the term “big five” is used much more gently, as it refers to seeing any of these animals during wildlife safaris.

There are many other species that live in the Serengeti, including cheetah, giraffe, zebra, gazelle, hippopotamus, ostrich and crocodile to name a few.

The Wildebeest Migration

Every year, about 1.5 million wildebeest, along with zebras and a few other species, make a migration that circulates through the Serengeti, from the south area of the region to the north entering Kenya. This is one of the largest migrations for a mammal species in size, and it is dependent on grazing, and it lasts for months at a time.

Picture of the wildebeest migration of this year can be found here (from today!):

https://gulfnews.com/photos/news/photos-annual-wildebeest-migration-begins-in-africa-1.1595237221032?slide=1

African Elephant

Elephants are the largest mammal species in the world. They are found throughout Africa and some parts of Asia, although these species differ in many ways. The African elephant can be found in sub-saharan savanna areas, as well as rainforests of central and West Africa. They are extremely intelligent animals, and they are known as a “keystone species,” which means that they play a significant role in their ecosystem.

Elephants create habitat for other species, and in the dry season they use their tusks to dig up dry riverbeds which creates a watering hole for other species to use. In the savanna, they uproot trees and eat saplings, which gives more room for other species to roam, such as zebras. In the forest, they feast on trees and shrubs which creates pathways for smaller species to move through. Also, elephant dung is filled with seeds, which helps plant seeds throughout the environment.

Elephants have a trunk that is essentially a long nose which they use for smelling, breathing, trumpeting, drinking, and grabbing things. They have two finger-like features on the end of their trunks which they use for grabbing small items. Both male and female African elephants grow tusks, which is different from Asian elephants as only some males grow tusks. These tusks are constantly growing, and are made up of the same fibres as teeth. They use their tusks for digging for food or water, and to strip bark from trees, and they also use them to battle each other.

An elephant can eat up to 300 lbs of food in a day, and they eat many things including roots, fruits, grasses and bark. They are able to eat a farmer’s entire crop of vegetation in day or night, and they are so smart that they are able to get around electric fences very quickly. There are many conservation programs in Africa that are centred around protecting farmers’ crops, so that farmers do not want to retaliate against elephants.

Poaching is the biggest threat to an elephant’s survival, and they have been brutally hunted for decades for their tusks. The tusk is a very valuable resource, and it is used for the production of luxury goods. Today, there are thought to only be about 400, 000 African elephants in the wild, and they are listed as a vulnerable species.

For information on conservation efforts for the African Elephant, check out the World Wildlife Fund’s website here: https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/elephant

Cheetahs

Cheetahs are best known for being the fastest living mammal on earth. They are able to go from a speed of 0 miles per hour to 60 mph in 3 seconds. Their bodies are very nimble, making them easily able to move quickly especially when hunting prey. Before going after their prey, they use their precise eyesight to scan the grassland, and then they stalk the prey amidst the tall grass, blending into their environment. Once they catch their prey, a cheetah will often bring it to a shady and hidden spot, so that no other large predator can steal it.

Female cheetahs have up to 3 cubs at a time, and the cubs stay with them for two years. Male cheetahs often live alone or in small groups, and sometimes with their siblings.

The oldest subspecies of cheetah is the Tanzanian cheetah, and they can be found in the Serengeti. Their species is declining in numbers, and this is due to habitat loss and humans hunting them for their fur coats.

Check out this episode of Our Planet!

July 16th: Sports Update, Quiz and Happy Birthday Gabriel!!

Sports Quiz!

• What complex/organization is now hosting the NBA?
• Where is this complex?
• Who are the Raptors facing in their first game set to play on August 1st?
• What two cities will be hosting the NHL?
• Are the Toronto Maple Leafs still in the league?
• What Toronto Maple Leafs player tested positive for COVID-19?
• Is the Toronto Blue Jays the only Canadian baseball team?
• Where are the Toronto Blue Jays training now?
• What league (the NHL, NBA or MLB) is set to begin first?

New Sports Updates

MLB Update

Because of travel restrictions travelling between Canada and the U.S., the Toronto Blue Jays are not sure where they will call home for their remaining games. Currently, the team has been training in Toronto and got an exemption to come into Canada so long as the team remained away from the general public.

Now, the team is asking for exemption to travel between the countries so that they can complete their season normally, but the Canadian government has yet to respond to this request and the league is set to start on July 23rd. If Canada does not permit this kind of travel, the Blue Jays will have to call another city home for the remainder of the season.

The cities that are currently being considered are Buffalo, New York or the spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida. Sources say that the team is leaning towards Buffalo due to the rise in COVID cases in Florida.

NHL Update

The NHL is set to resume at the end of the month, and each team will play one exhibition game from July 28-30th. The season will continue from there, and the first round of playoffs are meant to start on August 11th.

There are two hub cities for the NHL, Toronto and Edmonton. Toronto is hosting the 12 Eastern-Conference for the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, and Edmonton is hosting the Western-Conference teams. Games are set to begin on August 1st at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena and Edmonton’s Rogers Place. These hub cities are preparing for the teams to arrive, and each city will have designated spaces where only people involved with the NHL will be allowed to go. The teams will not be able to leave this designated bubble, in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading.

Toronto and Edmonton are now determining the hotels and restaurants that the NHL will have access to, and the public will not. Sources say that Hotel X and the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto have been chosen as being the hotels for the teams in Toronto, and that they cancelled already-existing bookings in order to accommodate the NHL. People on social media have been joking recently, as the 5 teams that have been assigned to stay at Hotel X are largely tough, fighting teams. The teams include; the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. There are also known rivalries of the teams staying at the Fairmont Royal York, where the Leafs will be staying, so things could get interesting in these hotels!

NBA Updates

The NBA has been training at Walt Disney World in Florida at the ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex. They have apparently been enjoying many activities that they have been able to participate in, including bowling, swimming, taking boats out, walking on the trails of the complex, and even playing golf at a private golf course strictly for NBA use.

The Raptors are set to play the L.A. Lakers on August 1st, and Marc Gasol is set to return after being out for most of the season due to a hamstring injury. All of the teams have arrived at the Walt Disney World complex, and they are training with strict regulations to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Wishing Gabriel a very happy birthday this Saturday!!!

July 14th: Madagascar

Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of East Africa. It is the world’s second largest island country.

Madagascar is known as being a biodiversity hotspot, as close to 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on earth. The landscapes include rainforests, tropical dry forests, plateaus and deserts. There are over 11 000 species of plants, including seven species of the baobab tree. In Madagascar, there is a large area of these trees, which they call the Avenue of the Baobabs, and it is a protected area that has been there for thousands of years.

Madagascar is known for its wildlife, which exists in its lush rainforests and tropical climate. Chameleons are found on the island, as well as geckos, tortoises, and lemurs. In the past few decades thousands of species have been discovered on the island, which shows how much biodiversity exists in Madagascar.

Lemurs

Madagascar is known for their lemur species, and lemurs are only native to the island. There are about 100 different lemur species in Madagascar, and they are significantly different from other species of primates such as monkeys and gorillas. Lemurs include the smallest species of primate (Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur ^), and until humans populated Madagascar 2000 years ago, they also included the largest. One recently extinct species rivalled the gorilla in size.

A commonly known lemur due to its distinct tail is the ring-tailed lemur. These lemurs are herbivores, feeding on fruit, leaves, and sap, and they live in sparse, dry forests. They live in groups, called troops, of 6 to 30 lemurs, with one dominant female leading them all. They use their hands and feet to move nimbly through the trees and on the ground, and they are not able to use their tails to grip as some other primate species do.

There is also a species nicknamed the dancing lemur, which is named accordingly because of the way that it moves along the ground. This is due to their body shape, as they are meant for leaping among the trees. This makes their movement on the ground almost dance-like, as they only travel on two legs by springing from one spot to the next.

Today, lemurs are the most endangered primate, as their habitats in Madagascar are decreasing. This is due to illegal tree logging, charcoal production and mining, and hunting of the species. Currently, there are several organizations such as the Lemur Conservation Network whose main aim is to conserve the population of lemurs and their habitats in Madagascar. To check out their website, click on this link: https://www.lemurconservationnetwork.org

The Radiated Tortoise

This species of tortoise is native to Southern Madagascar. They are thought to be an ancient species, and these tortoises are able to live record life spans of up to 188 years. They are considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful species of tortoise, due to their carapace, or shell, which is brightly marked with yellow lines that make up an almost star-like pattern.

They are herbivores, and graze on grass and leaves, but are also known to eat fruit and succulent plants. A favourite food of theirs is cactus which grows in the wild in Madagascar.

These radiated tortoises are going extinct at a rapid rate. There are many conservation efforts currently in place to make sure that this doesn’t happen, and one is a captive-breeding program such as the Species Survival Plan. There are 332 tortoises in one of these programs at the Turtle Conservancy in California. Here is a link to their website: https://www.turtleconservancy.org/home

Fossa

This is the top predator on Madagascar, and it is native to the island. The fossa hunts lemurs, fish, lizards, birds, frogs and insects. They are a solitary species, and they hunt on their own day and night, in trees and on the ground. This makes them a deadly predator.

They are easily able to move through trees, and they climb with their sharp claws. They are also able to climb down a tree head-first, and they use their long tails for extra support when travelling from branch to branch.

July 13th: Species of The Sahara Desert

Hyenas

Hyenas are carnivores, and they are well known for their scavenging habits. This means that they often prey on already dead animals. They have a diverse diet, which is not limited to any few species. Although they are known as scavengers, hyenas hunt a lot of what they eat, and they are a top predators in their food chain. This is due to their strong jaws, one of the strongest of any predator, and their ability to efficiently hunt in a pack. They can take down other predators that are much larger than they are, and are known for preying on wildebeest, antelope, and have even been known to take down a lion as a pack. Spotted hyenas are found in parts of the Sahara, as well as the Sub-Saharan and Southern Africa region.

Spotted hyenas often communicate with yelps, and other laughing-like calls, which is unique to this species. They do so in times of stress or fear, in order to get support from other members of their pack. They are a very social species, living in packs, and there is a clear ranking system that they use between the males and the females. The females are often in higher ranking positions, and lead the packs.

For more on hyenas, check out this article on how they are the “most successful predator in Africa”: https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/animals/2019/06/hyenas-have-bad-rap-theyre-africas-most-successful-predator

Chameleons

The chameleon can be found in parts of the Sahara desert, including in the sand dunes landscapes. They are also found in rainforests throughout Africa, such as in Madagascar. Chameleons are best known for their ability to change colour, their long sticky tongues, and their eyes which can move independently of one another.

The chameleon’s changing colour depends more on their communication and not their environment as previously thought. It can change in response to the lizard’s mood, such as fear or anger, the amount of light that hits its body, and the temperature or humidity. The colours are also used for mating signs, and to tell if a female is pregnant.

The chameleon’s eyes are shaped like a cone, and they are able to focus on two things at once. Their eyes move independently from one another, and this allows it to have a full 360 degree view of their entire surroundings. This allows it to easily find prey, which they catch with their super sticky tongue. Chameleons are insectivores, meaning they only eat insects, and they have tongues that are able to stretch out to twice their body length in size. These tongues launch out of their mouths and quickly stick to the prey which the chameleon then recoils back into their mouth.

Predators of the chameleons include snakes and birds.

The Addax

The addax are a species of white antelope which are native to the Sahara desert. Now they are critically endangered, due to hunting by humans, and it is thought that there may only be under 100 remaining in the wild. There are over 2000 of them remaining in zoos and ranches around the world. There are currently efforts to reintroduce the addax to areas of desert in Tunisia and Morocco.

The addax is best known for its long, spiral horns. They are adapted for the desert because of their large hooves, which are widespread and flat to easily navigate areas of sand, called ergs. Another adaptation is that they are able to get their water from plants, and they conserve the water within their bodies for long periods of time. They also have a white coat, which reflects the sun light and keeps them cool in hot desert temperatures.

July 9th: Africa & The Sahara Desert

Map of Africa

Physical Geography of Africa

Africa has been called the ‘mother continent,’ due to its being the oldest inhabited continent on earth. Humans and ancestors of humans have been living in Africa for over 5 million years. It is the second largest continent on earth, and it is divided almost equally in half by the equator.

Africa has many different landscapes that span over 50 countries. There are eight major physical regions, which include: the Sahara, the Sahel, the Ethiopian Highlands, the Savanna, the Swahili Coast, the rain forest, the African Great Lakes, and Southern Africa.

The Sahara Desert

The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world. It covers almost all of Northern Africa, and spans from the Atlantic coast in the west to the Red Sea coast in the east. In total, the area of the desert is 8, 600, 000 square km, and accounts for about 25% of the continent. In southern parts of the Sahara, the temperature can be up to 50 degrees C in the summer, making it one of the world’s hottest places.

Within the Sahara, there are several defining physical features, including ergs, regs, hamadas and oases. Ergs, which cover 20% of the Sahara, are sand dunes. These sand dunes can be more than 300 metres, or 1000 ft tall, and can contain large amounts of salt which is sold for industrial and food use. These ergs cover most of Algeria and Libya and parts of Nigeria and Mali.

Regs are plains of sand and gravel, and they make up 70% of the Sahara desert. The gravel can be black, red or white. Regs are the remains of prehistoric seabeds and riverbeds, and now they are nearly waterless.

The hamadas are the mountains, and these regions can reach heights of 11, 000 ft. This includes the Atlas Mountains in the northwest, the Tibesti Mountains of southern Libya and northern Chad, and the Ahaggar Mountains in Southern Algeria.

Oases are the hubs of water in the desert, often in the form of springs or wells. This is where the majority, 75%, of the population of the desert live. An oasis in the Sahara is where life can exist because of the abundance of water that is sourced from the ground. There is no river or stream that flows into an oasis, which can make it puzzling as to how the water gets there.

Camels

The species of camel that is in the Sahara are known as the dromedary, or Arabian camel. These animals are adapted to thrive in desert conditions. They have been domesticated for over 3500 years, and all Arabian camels are domesticated. This is because they are providers of food, textiles and they are able to travel far distances in harsh climates. They are able to carry large loads, which they can do for about 25 miles per day, and they are useful for humans to travel on in harsh conditions.

The Arabian camel only has one hump on its back, whereas the bactrian camel which lives in southwestern Asia has two. This hump is able to store up to 80 pounds of fat, which a camel can break down into water and energy when sustenance is not available. This allows camels to travel up to 100 miles in the desert without water. Another way that they conserve water is that they do not sweat, unless temperatures reach about 48 degrees C. In the winter, camels may be able to survive on moisture that they consume from plants which allows them to not need water for several weeks. When they do have water, they consume extremely large amounts, and can drink up to 30 gallons (114 litres) of water in 13 minutes.

They are also well suited for the desert because of their ability to keep sand out of their eyes and nose. Arabian camels have bushy eyebrows and two rows of long eyelashes that keeps sand out of their eyes. Their nostrils are able to close, and do so in order to keep sand out. Camels also have large footpads which help them navigate the shifting sands in the desert as well as rocky terrain.

July 7th: Sports Update & Wildlife in Mexico

The NHL

The NHL has announced the return of the league with a 24-team start. The hubs for training and for games will happen in Toronto and Edmonton, and training camps are expected to start on July 13th.

The NHL is referring to these hubs as ‘bubbles,’ due to the strict regulations that all members of a team and anyone who comes into contact with them will have to go through. Testing for COVID-19 will be done everyday, and each team is only allowed 52 individuals max, including 31 players max.

Over the past month, there have been 35 players in the NHL that have tested positive for COVID-19. Therefore, the league has to be extremely careful within these ‘bubbles.’

The NBA

Today, July 7th, teams are meant to be arriving at Disney in Florida in order to begin their training. The Raptors already arrived last week in order to complete their 2-week quarantine before starting to train. There will be 21 other teams joining them at Disney, and the restart date for the season is set for July 30th.

The Raptors are meant to face the L.A. Lakers on August 1st for their first game. There will be 8 ‘seeding games’ that each team will have to play before the playoffs can begin. The finals are expected to be over no later than October 13th.

For more info: https://www.nba.com/nba-returns-2020-faq

The MLB

The MLB is set to start on July 23rd, and in the meantime teams are training at their own home facilities. This means that Toronto is training at the Rogers Centre, and not at their usual Spring training camp in Florida. This has just been approved by the Canadian federal government, and so players who have been training in Florida will return to Toronto where they will be quarantined.

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Mexico

Mexico has many different types of environments, including the deserts of Northern Mexico to several mountain ranges, and the humid jungle in the south of the country. There is also the Gulf of Mexico where lots of marine life can be found, including dolphins and whales. This allows for many different types of wildlife within the country, and it is a richly biodiverse nation.

Axolotl

The Axolotl is native to Mexico, meaning it has only ever lived in the freshwater lakes of Mexico. This species is also known as the Mexican Walking Fish, but it is a species of salamander. This means that it is not a fish, but rather an amphibian. They are unique from most other amphibians because the adults never go through metamorphosis, meaning that they remain gilled, without lungs, and therefore never take to land but remain aquatic animals.

The Axolotl have been highly praised throughout history by the Aztecs as being a sacred species. What is remarkable about them is that they are able to regenerate parts of their body, including limbs, parts of their brain and even most of their heart. Scientists still cannot explain this phenomenon, but much research is being done to understand it.

This species is near extinct, due to building cities and the pollution from these cities in lakes. They are currently only found in the wild in a lake near Mexico City.

Currently, in Mexico, there are conservation efforts that are exclusively for protecting Axolotl as they are extremely endangered. Check out this video:

The Manatee

Manatees can be found in the Gulf of Mexico as well as the Caribbean. They are also known as ‘sea cows,’ and they live a very slow-paced life. They can weigh up to 1300 lbs, but despite their heavy weight they are very graceful swimmers.

The manatee is a herbivore, eating water grasses, weeds and algae. A manatee will spend up to 8 hours a day grazing, and can eat a tenth of its weight in a 24 hour period. They are marine mammals and therefore need air to breathe, and they come up to the surface every 3 to 4 minutes if swimming but can stay under for up to 15 minutes if resting.

There are three species of Manatee, but the species that is found near Mexico is called the West Indian Manatee. They are becoming more and more endangered due to human activity, and due to their need to be in coastal, warm waters, boats are a threat to the survival of manatees.

Research Projects!

Gabriel’s Project:

Harpy Eagle at the Apex

These powerful eagles are at the top of the rainforest food chain and have no natural predators. They prey on tree-dwelling mammals including sloths, monkeys, and opossums; large birds such as macaws and curassows; and reptiles like iguanas and snakes.

Harpy Eagles are among the world’s largest and most powerful eagles. Their rear talons are about 3-4 inches long – the same size as a grizzly bear’s claws! Like many other birds of prey, Harpy Eagles continue to bring fresh green twigs and branches to the nest after the chick has hatched.

Harpy Eagles are definitely under threat.  They are declining in nearly all countries where they are found, and in a few they have been extirpated. 

The species is also found in areas of Mexico and Central America, though the populations are far smaller. Lifespan: The bird’s lifespan is believed to be 25-35 years.  Social Structure and Breeding: Harpy eagles mate for life.

It is estimated that less than 50,000 individuals remain in the wild. The second largest threat to the Harpy eagle population is the danger of being hunted.

Jean-Luc’s Project:

The Red-Bellied Pirhana

The red bellied piranha is native to South America and the Amazon. The fish is abundant in its freshwater habitat. It is an omnivorous forager and feeds on insects, worms, crustaceans and fish although ,when in packs of hundreds, it has been known to feed with its razor sharp teeth  on animals as large egrets or capybaras.

It can reach up to 8.6lbs in weight  and 20 inches in length although it rarely surpasses 14 inches.

Kerr’s Project:

Frogs

Common name: Poisonous Dart Frog

Scientific name: Dendrobatidae

Species: Three-striped poison frog (Ameerega trivittatus)  

Facts:Poisonous dart frogs are the most poisonous animals alive. Poisonous dart frogs are brightly colored. In nature bright colors are often a warning sign to stay away. Types of poison they secrete are batrachotoxin and epibatidine. Batrachotoxin  causes paralysis and death when it enters the bloodstream, even in small amounts.  Epibatidine can cause severe damage to an animal’s brain and muscles. This can lead to respiratory paralysis, high blood pressure, seizures and death.

July 6th: Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a small country in Central America, and it is known for its beaches, volcanoes and rich biodiversity. Roughly a quarter of the land in Costa Rica is protected by parks and reserves in order for biodiversity to flourish. This has protected against deforestation and logging, which has preserved habitats for over 10 000 species that live in Costa Rica.

In 1948, the president of Costa Rica declared that funding for the military would end. Instead, the country would invest in education, healthcare and environmental protection. Today, Costa Rica has no army, airforce or navy, and no heavy weapons of any kind.

In the 1980s, the country decided to heavily invest in nature, and it did so by focusing on protecting against deforestation. It has increased forest coverage from 21% in 1987 to over 50% in 2005. Currently, Costa Rica is focused on the conservation of the sea, addressing threats such as overfishing.

Rainforests in Costa Rica

The rainforests in Costa Rica are tropical, meaning that they have a high temperature and are often humid from rain. Trees within these rainforests can be over 100 feet tall. This creates a canopy of trees, which allows in streams of sunlight and a covering for rain. The jungles are can be noisy with all of the wildlife that lives within them, including 35 000 species of insects.

The Boa Constrictor

Hidden in these forests, under this canopy, is perfect habitat for the boa constrictor. This species of snake can live on the ground or at the top of the canopy. They are easily able to blend into the trees due to their colouring, and they often wrap themselves around vines found amongst the trees in the jungle.

Boas can be up to 13 ft in length, and weigh about 60 lbs. Their markings on their body greatly depend on the habitat that they are trying to blend into, and therefore the colours greatly vary as well as the patterning on their bodies. They can live about 20-30 years in the wild.

Boa constrictors are non-venomous snakes, and they are strictly carnivores. They catch and kill their prey by moving quickly, usually biting down on the prey, and suffocating it by wrapping themselves around and squeezing. This stops blood circulation which eventually kills the prey. The boa’s jaw is often able to stretch wide enough to swallow the prey whole. They will eat anything they can catch, including birds, reptiles, monkeys and wild pigs.

***Warning: Iguana is killed in video below***

The Red-Eyed Tree Frog

The red-eyed tree frog is a species of amphibian that is commonly found in the rainforests of Costa Rica. They are about the size of a teacup, and they live about 5 years in the wild. They are nocturnal, meaning that they sleep all day usually using their webbed feet to stick to leaf bottoms. This disguises them really well against predators, and with their red eyes closed and coloured bodies tucked close to the leaf, they blend right into the leaf.

Because of their colouring, it is commonly thought that predators of the leaf frog are initially stunned upon seeing them, and this gives the frog a good amount of time to get away. They are able to use their webbed-feet as a type of parachute when jumping, and so they are able to jump far distances.

Their diet consist of insects, including crickets, flies and moths which they catch quickly with their long, sticky tongue. This species is not endangered, but they are losing habitat outside of Costa Rica at a rapid rate.

Capuchin Monkeys

Capuchins are another species that roam the rainforests of Costa Rica. They are considered to be the most intelligent monkeys in Central and South America, and because of this they have been used for tv shows and movies.

Capuchins usually roam about the canopies of the forests, and they are really good climbers. They can easily get from the floor of the forest into the canopy, and they often roam about in large groups. These groups consist of several young monkeys and several older, and the strongest are the ones that lead the group. Their diet consists of fruits, nuts and over 95 different types of leaves. They also eat meat, including lizards, frogs, birds and oysters. They are very clever, and often use some kind of tool such as a stick or stone to open nuts, shells, and hard seeds.

There are 17 known species of capuchin monkeys in the wild, and more than half of them are endangered. This means that they rely on protection from deforestation and logging in order for their habitat to exist. This is why the conservation efforts of Costa Rica are so important and are leading in the region and the rest of the world.