darcy moon and the deep fried frogs

Perth Zoo Breeding Program – Western Swamp Tortoise

March 10, 2014April 19, 2019 by Catherine Carvell, posted in Animal adaptations, Endangered Species, The Western Swamp Tortoise

In 1953, the Western Swamp Tortoise had been extinct for over 100 years.

So you can imagine the surprise and excitement when a 15 year old school boy named Robert Boyd took his pet tortoise to a wildlife show – and it turned out to be a Western Swamp Tortoise!

They weren’t extinct after all.

But they were extremely endangered.

And, despite efforts to protect the remaining tortoises – such as the establishment of protected nature reserves – the tortoise numbers had dropped to as few as 30 by the 1980s.

In 1988, in an effort to help boost the number of tortoises, a breeding program was established at the Perth Zoo.

Since then, the program has bred over 800 Western Swamp Tortoises of which more than 600 have been released into the wild.

Check out this amazing video of baby tortoises hatching at Perth Zoo.

Today, it is estimated that 50 tortoises of breeding age live in the wild. The Perth Zoo’s breeding program has played a vital role in the survival of the Western Swamp Tortoise. Without it, they would most likely have become extinct – AGAIN!

For more information about the Perth Zoo Breeding Program click HERE.

Who invented potato chips?

March 7, 2014 by Catherine Carvell, posted in Freaky Food Facts, Uncategorized

Potato Chips are the world’s most popular savoury snack.

So who would have guessed, they were invented as a JOKE!

It’s true!

In 1853, a native American named GEORGE CRUM was working as a chef and restaurant owner in Saratoga Springs. A super annoying customer kept sending his french-fries back to the kitchen saying they were too thick and soggy. It was a hot day and George lost his patience with the fussy customer. He sliced the potatoes as thin as possible, fried them to a crisp then added a heap of salt. Expecting the customer to dislike them, he served them with a self-satisfied flourish … and the customer loved them!

George Crum had accidentally invented the potato chip – a snack that was eventually mass-produced and sold in bags, providing thousands of jobs nationwide and across the globe.

These days $15 billion dollars worth of potato chips are consumed world wide every year!

In the UK alone, a tonne of chips (or crisps as they are known there) are consumed every three minutes. That’s enough to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool every 14 hours!

No wonder Sid Bellows made so much money out of Skippity Chips!

What is frog slime?

March 3, 2014 by Catherine Carvell, posted in Animal adaptations, Fantastic Frog Facts

In Darcy Moon and the Deep-Fried Frogs, Jumpy’s family and friends are frognapped for their tasty breathing mucus.

This is obviously a fictitious story, but a small part of it is based on fact.

Do you know what part????

Babadaboom, that’s right!

Frogs produce MUCUS!

What is frog mucus?

It is a special type of slime that frogs secrete to keep their skin moist.

It is important for frogs’ skin to remain moist because frogs BREATHE through their SKIN.

The mucus that frogs secrete traps moisture next to the skin. This moisture then transfers oxygen (from either water or air) into the frog’s body.

This process is called cutaneous gas exchange.

If the frog dries out, it will suffocate.

Do frogs always breathe through their skin, or just when they are underwater?

Adult frogs ALWAYS breathe through their skin, even when they are on land.

Frogs are amphibians, which means that they spend part of their life in water, and part on land.

They begin life as tadpoles, taking in oxygen through their skin and gills.

When they turn into adult frogs they lose their gills and grow lungs, but still breathe continuously through their skin, even when on land.

When a frog is under water its lungs are useless and it breathes entirely through its skin.

Sometimes, when a frog is out of water hybernating or being inactive, it gets all the oxygen it needs from its skin alone.

But when a frog is leaping around eating bugs it needs more oxygen and uses its lungs to catch its breath.

In order to pump oxygen into the lungs, the frog draws air through the nostrils by a movement of the throat, which is why it puffs out.

Frog skin facts.

Frogs don’t drink water through their mouths at all, instead they soak it into their bodies through their skin.

Frogs breathe through their skin.

A frog can breathe through its skin under water and in air, but the skin must be kept moist at all times.

Frogs secrete a mucus to help keep their skin wet.

In some frogs, the mucus can also contain antibacterial or anti fungal chemicals to help protect the frog from disease.

Frog skin is sometimes poisonous and often camouflaged.

More frog funnies

February 28, 2014April 19, 2019 by Catherine Carvell, posted in Just for Fun

Q: What does a frog wear on St. Patrick’s day?

A: Nothing

Q: What car do frogs prefer?

A: The Beetle

Q: What’s white on the outside and green on the inside?

A: A frog sandwich

Q: What kind of shoes do frogs wear?

A: Open toad

Q: What’s green with red spots

A: A frog with chicken pox

Q: What is a frog’s favourite time of year?

A: Leap year

Q: What’s green and jumps?

A: A frog !!!!!

Recycling Glass

February 24, 2014April 19, 2019 by Catherine Carvell, posted in Protect Our Planet, Recycling, Sustainability

Did you know ?

Glass is 100% recyclable.

It can be recycled a MILLION times over and the quality of glass will be JUST AS GOOD.

Glass was discovered OVER 5000 YEARS AGO (2900 BC) which makes it one of the oldest forms of packaging.

Glass is made from soda ash, sand and limestone and comes in three main colours.

1) Clear

2) Green (which includes blue glass)

3) Brown or amber.

The colour of the glass is determined by how much iron is in the sand used to make the glass and the different amounts of soda ash and limestone used.

Recycling glass reduces the need to quarry for new sand and supplies. This preserves natural resources and the environment.

It takes less energy to melt recycled glass than to melt new raw materials. In fact, every ton of recycled glass turned into new products saves 315 kilograms of extra carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.

So, recycling saves both natural resources and energy.

If you don’t recycle glass, it will take anywhere from 4000 to 1 million years to break down in landfill.

Reduce and Reuse.

As glass is 100% recyclable, try to choose glass containers over plastic or paper.

When picking glass products, look for the recycle symbol.

Think of ways to reuse glass jars and bottles. For example you could use them as vases, food containers, water bottles or as candle holders. What other ideas can you think of?

How to recycle glass.

Prepare the glass by removing any lids or caps.

Rinse all bottles (remember to conserve water).

During recycling, different glass furnaces are used for each colour. If the colours are mixed, the recycled glass will be discoloured, and unusable.So it is very important to separate the colours.

Some forms of glass cannot be recycled.

Window or windscreen glass, drinking glasses, mirrors, oven-proof or heat-treated glass (e.g. Corning Ware, Pyrex or Vision Ware), light globes, laboratory and medical glass are not suitable for recycling.

These non-recyclable glass items can cause defects in new glass bottles and jars made from recycled material, so it is important you don’t include them in your recycling bin.

When recycling, ensure you don’t include china, ceramics or stones with glass bottles and jars. It can lead to the rejection of thousands of bottles and jars collected for recycling.

Take care not to shatter glass bottles and jars when you place them in the recycling bin. While most bottles and jars will break during collection and transportation, the pieces are more likely to be larger and more easily sorted if the bottle is still intact when you put it in your bin.

Where can I recycle glass?

In Australia green, brown and clear glass bottles and jars can be dropped off at nominated SITA facilities. To find your closest centre, you can contact them on 13 13 35. Alternatively, you can do a search on their contact page.

SITA also provides collection services for glass recycling. Call Customer Service on 13 13 35 for more information.

Green, brown and clear glass bottles and jars can also be placed in kerbside recycling bins provided by most councils. Some councils will also accept other colours – contact your local council for more information.

Other countries do things differently. For example, in Singapore certain HDB and private housing estates have recycling programs and there are also collectors and/or traders in common recyclable materials (such as glass).

Freakiest frog everrrrrrr!

February 21, 2014April 19, 2019 by Catherine Carvell, posted in Animal adaptations, Endangered Species, Fantastic Frog Facts

Well, technically speaking, the freakiest frog ever is NOT a frog.

It’s a TOAD.

A Surinam sea toad.

And it’s soooo FREAKY that it’s TOTALLY AWESOME!

The Surinam sea toad has adapted in the most amazing way. Only nature could have thought of this!

To keep their babies safe until they are big enough to survive on their own, Surinam sea toads implant eggs into the skin of the female’s back. The larvae develop into tadpoles which remain protected until they emerge as fully developed toads.

It’s genius!

And totally GROSS!

Check out the video. Eugh !!!!!

Large flippered feet and greatly flattened bodies make these amphibians well suited to life in South America’s murky ponds and swamps, but habitat loss means this their future survival is currently regarded as threatened.

Are they adorable? Or horrifying?

One thing’s for sure. They are toad-ally FREAKY!

Top ten frog adaptations

February 17, 2014 by Catherine Carvell, posted in Animal adaptations, Fantastic Frog Facts

All animals adapt to survive in the wild, and frogs are no exception. Here is a list of the top ten physical adaptations that enable frogs to thrive in wetlands.

1. Legs: Frogs have very powerful back legs and webbed feet that help them swim and jump.

Some frogs even use their legs to dig, or burrow underground for hibernating. Certain frogs can jump up to 20 times their own body length in a single bound.

2. Skin: Frogs can breathe though their skin so they can stay underwater as long as they want.

3. Skin: Frogs don’t drink water through their mouths at all, instead they soak it into their bodies through their skin.

4. Skin: Frog skin is often camouflaged to hide from predators. Some frogs can change the colour of their skin depending on its surroundings.

5. Skin: Some frogs secrete poison through their skin. Many of the more easily visible, brightly colored tropical frogs are colored in this way to warn predators that they are poisonous.

6. Croaks: Frogs attract each other for mating with their croak. Each frog species has a distinct croak. They have vocal sacs, which fill with air, and can amplify the sound up to a mile away.

7. Tongue: When a frog spots a tasty meal, it flicks out its long, sticky tongue. The tongue wraps around the meal/insect and pulls it back into the frog’s mouth. Unlike humans, a frog’s tongue is not attached to the back of its mouth. Instead it is attached to the front, enabling the frog to stick its tongue out much further.

8. Teeth: Frogs do have teeth, but they are small and not good for chewing. Instead, frogs use their teeth to hold their prey in their mouths until they are ready to swallow.

9. Eyes: Frogs swallow using their eyes. Its eyes retract into its head and push the food down its throat. Frog’ eyes are on top of their heads so when they swim close to the surface of the water, only their eyes are exposed. This way, they can quickly spot danger before danger spots them.

10. Eyes: Frogs can see forwards, sideways and upwards all at the same time and never close their eyes, even when they sleep. They even have a third eyelid which is see-through and protects the frog’s sensitive eyes when it is under water.

The Desert Rain Frog

February 10, 2014April 19, 2019 by Catherine Carvell, posted in Animal adaptations, Endangered Species, Fantastic Frog Facts

Not all frogs live near water. In fact some frogs, like this one, live where there’s no water at all.

Yes I agree, this may be the cutest frog in the world!

Just like a squeaky baby toy.

But the Desert Rain Frog, which is found along the western coast of Namibia and South Africa, is currently listed as vulnerable due to habitat loss – which is one step away from being endangered and that is really not good at all.

How can this frog live in such dry conditions?

The Desert Rain Frog has no tadpole stage and survives by burrowing under the sand to find moisture. It has a spherical body (a clever adaptation which means it retains water for longer) and feet built for digging.

I love this frog! Do you?

Now it’s time to watch that video again. So awesome, right?!

Recycling Plastics

February 7, 2014 by Catherine Carvell, posted in Protect Our Planet, Recycling, Sustainability

What are plastics used for?

Plastic is light and durable, can be easily coloured and is one of the most commonly used materials today.

It is used in food packaging, toys, furniture, buttons, water hoses, credit cards, light switches, computer keyboards and even our clothes!

Even polyester (a kind of fabric) is made from plastic.

In fact, you need 25 two litre plastic bottles to make one adult polyester jacket!

Plastic bottles are used to package liquids – juice, milk, shampoo, cooking oil, fizzy drinks and more.

It is also used to make plastic bags, which people use for grocery shopping.

Did you know?

Shoppers use ONE TRILLION plastic bags worldwide per year?

Australians alone use 10 MILLION plastic bags EVERY DAY.

Only 3% of Australian plastic bags are recycled.

All plastic bottles (except for the brown ones used to contain beer) are recyclable.

The energy saved by recycling one plastic drink bottle will power a light globe for 6 hours or a computer for 25 minutes.

It is estimated that it takes 400 to 1000 years or more for plastic to degrade.

One piece of plastic can kill many animals. If one animal eats a plastic bag, that animal dies and decomposes, releasing the bag back into the environment.

Recycled plastic bottles can be made into all sorts of new things, including fleece clothing, garden furniture, seed trays, the fiber filling for doonas and sleeping bags, drain pipes, compost bins, and of course, new bottles.

What can we do?

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Use reusable cloth bags at the supermarket.

Where possible, buy glass instead of plastic.

To reduce harm to animals, cut the rings from bottle necks and six-pack holders before you dispose of them.

Plastic bags, bin liners, and cling wrap are not recyclable. However, many Australian supermarkets have special plastic bag recycling bins (ask at customer service).

If you cannot find a supermarket that will accept your plastic bags for recycling, your household garbage bin is the next best place to dispose of them.

When placing plastic bags into household garbage, reuse them as the garbage bag itself, and tie the tops together to prevent them blowing away.

When buying plastic, look for its identification code to identify the type of resin used.

Here are some common products you will find for each type of plastic:

PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) – soft drink and fruit juice bottles

HDPE (High-density polyethylene) – milk bottles or shampoo containers

PVC (Polyvinyl chloride or plasticised polyvinyl chloride) – cordial, juice or squeeze bottles

LDPE (Low density polyethylene) – garbage bags and bins

PP (Polypropylene) – ice cream containers, take-away food containers and lunch boxes

PS (Polystyrene) – yoghurt containers, plastic cutlery, foam hot drink cups

Other – all other plastics, including acrylic and nylon

Your local council may only be able to recycle certain types through your kerbside recycling program. In Australia, most areas recycle plastics labelled 1, 2, and 3, although many councils are now extending their programs to include those labelled 4 through 7. Check with your council for details.

Make sure you are aware about what plastics can be recycled and only put these in your recycling bins. Contamination of recyclables is a problem because it raises the costs for collectors, recyclers and the community.

When preparing your plastics for recycling;

Take off lids.
Wash thoroughly (conserving water).
Squash flat, so it takes up less space.

Western Swamp Tortoise – Factsheet

February 3, 2014April 19, 2019 by Catherine Carvell, posted in Animal adaptations, Endangered Species, The Western Swamp Tortoise

The Western Swamp Tortoise is AUSTRALIA’S MOST ENDANGERED REPTILE.

They were believed to be extinct for over 100 years until they were rediscovered by a fifteen year old school boy in 1953.

What do they look like?

They are about as big as your hand and look like this.

So cute!

How many are there?

There are less than 50 adult tortoises tortoises living in the wild today.

Where do they live?

They are found in two small wetlands only. The Twin Swamps and Ellen Brook Nature Reserve in the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia.

These habitats cover 5.5 kilometers square altogether – approximately one quarter the size of Rottnest Island !

What is threatening them?

The tiny area they live in has been reduced even further by draining and filling to make way for market gardens and roads.

The Western Swamp Tortoise hybernates during the hot dry months and are particularly susceptible to predators during this time, especially introduced species such as cats and foxes.

Breeding age is not reached until eight years old and eggs are dependent on early winter rains. If the rains don’t come, the babies won’t survive.

Conservation Efforts

In 1988 a breeding program was set up at the Perth Zoo. Since then, many tortoises have been successfully bred and released into the wild and their remaining habitat is now protected.

For more information about the breeding program go to Perth Zoo.

The protected wetlands are now lined with electric fences to keep out foxes, dogs and other predators.

During the winter months, if rainfall is low, water is pumped into the area to ensure the hatchlings have enough water and food.

How can you help?

Report any sightings.

Talk to your teachers and friends about it. Show them this blog.

Stop water table reduction by SAVING WATER at home and at school.

Prevent bush fires.

Contact Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise and ask them to visit your school.

For more information and contact details go to Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise