Award-Winning Kids’ Nature Magazine
E
A
K
M
Surprisingly Smart
Are there many clever-clogs creatures?
African Grey Parrot
Endangered Creature Feature
Clever
Creatures
Which Clever
Creature
Are You?
Take a quiz
THE GENIUS
OCTOPUS
ASK THE EXPERT
CHARLIE MEETS
A BORDER COLLIE
Issue 113
March 2024
Fun Projects, Puzzles and Stunning Posters
What's inside this
ISSUE
PLUS!
3
A Letter From a Pigeon
Welcome to your new issue
4
Surprisingly Smart!
Are there many clever-clogs
creatures out there?
8 Charlie Meets a
Border Collie!
Rocco, the sheep-herding pro
10 African Grey
Parrots
Endangered Creature Feature
15
Raven Calling
Poster
16
Code Breaker
Monthly project
28
Which Clever Creature
Are You?
Take the quiz!
30
Eco Kids Quiz Planet
Puzzles, games and jokes
12 The Genius
Octopus
17 Wildlife News
32
Over to You
Competition winners
Rhona and Rusty report
35
Ask the Expert
Monthly Competition
Pet talent show
22 Nature’s
Dream Teams
24 Weirdly Clever
Creatures
Amy investigates…
Eco Kids Planet is published 11
times a year, monthly except for
combined double July/August
issue, by Eco Kids Planet Ltd.
Simon investigates…
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2
Editor: Anya Dimelow
Contributing Editor
& Writer:
JD Savage
Writers & Contributors:
Katharine Davies,
Daisy Fox
Design:
Nebojsa Dolovacki
Illustrations:
Leah Ingledew
Comic:
Richy Chandler
All images: © Shutterstock (unless stated otherwise)
To subscribe, visit
www.ecokidsplanet.co.uk
© nigel Westwood/Alamy Stock Photo
A Feathered
Hello From
Peggy the
Pigeon
Greetings, Eco Kids! It’s me, Peggy, your
friendly neighbourhood pigeon. I’m so
chuffed to introduce your new magazine
about clever creatures. You might be
thinking, “Why a pigeon? Why not a smart
creature like a dolphin or a wise old
owl?” Allow me to explain how a humble
pigeon like me earned such an honour.
like monkeys – a task that is impossible
for many other species? And let’s not
forget about our vocab. We’re capable
of learning between 26 and 58 words!
Firstly, we pigeons possess remarkable
visual skills. We’re so talented that we
can be trained to critique art. Can you
believe it? We can even tell a Monet from a
Picasso! In a fascinating Japanese study,
my pigeon pals learned to identify these
artists’ styles, even on never-seen-before
paintings. So, if you ever find yourself
unsure about your artwork, consult
a pigeon!
Next time you see one of us pigeons
pecking away in the city square,
remember – you’re looking at a
surprisingly smart birdie!
Finally, pigeons have an amazing memory.
We can memorise anywhere from 800 to
1,200 pictures. Impressive, right?
Now, on to our medical marvels.
Professionals spend years learning to
detect diseases like cancer, but guess what!
We pigeons can be trained to do the same,
simply by looking at photos. Unfortunately,
we haven’t quite made it into the doctor’s
office yet. Curious, isn’t it?
Let’s talk numbers now. Did you know
pigeons can count from one to nine, just
Catch ya later,
Peggy the Pigeon
3
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© Nature Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo
SURPRISINGLY
SMART!
By JD Savage
Which are the brainiest beings? Look
no further than the mirror. Humans are
Earth’s brightest brainboxes! Aren’t
we…? After all, no parrots have ever
sent other parrots to the Moon, and
very few hamsters go to university. (OK,
no hamsters!) But wait two ticks – how
exactly do we judge what makes us
so bright?
learners – and in some thinking tests, they
even outperform humans!
Mazes
don’t
rat-tle
me!
Is it because we can plan? Or our nifty use
of tools? Or the bonds we create with our
family members, friends and neighbours?
Is it also that we can be sneaky enough to
trick each other and cheat?
Well, some animals can do one or more
of these things, too. And maybe judging
animal cleverness by human standards
alone is not so clever. Many animals
showcase their own brand of brilliance,
and shine in their own ways!
But can you keep a squeak-ret? Mice
aren’t just small and cute. Some research
suggests they’re just as clever as rats –
possibly even smarter!
Daydreaming rats?
Fun Fact
Rats have an imagination, forming
pictures or ideas in their minds like we
do. They can think about places they’ve
explored and mentally plan what to do
there when they next visit. It’s like how we
might plan a walk. They’re also top-notch
Rescue rats wearing tiny backpacks
with microphones, video gear and
location trackers are trained to
find victims trapped in collapsed
buildings after earthquakes!
4
© Matt Slater
Boneless but not brainless!
Octopuses don’t just have lots of suckers –
they’re suckers for learning! In tests, they
breeze through mazes, solve problems,
and complete tricky tasks to snag tasty
treats. They can open jars – and fit
themselves inside! They’re also skilled at
camouflage, sometimes changing their
skin colour and texture to match
their background.
Coconut octopuses in Indonesia scoop
up coconut half-shells from the seabed
and scamper away with the shells tucked
underneath them. If predators are
around, they put the shells together
and hide inside.
Octopuses are also great escape artists,
often legging it – or should that be arming
it? – from tanks and aquariums!
Fun Fact
Octopuses sometimes gather shells,
sand and other seabed stuff with
their arms – and throw them at each
other, powered with water jetted from
their siphons. Hey, surely you brainy
creatures can work things out peacefully!
Goats are really good at problemsolving, too – especially if they get
food as a reward!
‘Butt’
of
course!
Do elephants really never forget?
Elephants have the largest-sized brains of
all land mammals – but do they truly have
marvellous memories? It’s not just a tall
tale! They can remember the faces of their
friends and families among hundreds of
other elephants (and be honest, could
you tell hundreds of elephants apart?).
They can retrace their steps to find food
and water, and remember long routes
when they migrate. They also recall the
sounds and scents of predators. So, their
great memories help them to survive in
the wild!
5
Animals clever enough to use tools are
more common than we used to think.
Need proof? Octopuses build cosy dens
and use stones as shields to protect the
entrance. Sea otters smash open shellfish
snacks with well-aimed stone blows. Some
bottlenose dolphins use living sponges
to stir up the seabed to flush out fish for
food. Elephants use branches to scratch
itches in places their trunks can’t reach.
Aaah,
that’s
better!
And picture this: some alligators and
crocodiles collect sticks and balance them
on their snouts to lure in birds hunting for
nesting materials. Creepily cunning!
These
are a bit
too big!
Insect brains
Have you ever wondered how clever
insects are? These tiny creatures
with even tinier brains can be
surprisingly smart.
Honeybees can perform simple maths
and recognise human faces. Scientists
even coached some to play a strange bee
6
version of football, scoring ‘goals’ for
sugary treats. But here’s the real kicker:
they tell other bees where to find food –
through the medium of dance!
Strut
your
stuff!
Their so-called waggle dances in their
hives are like a buzzing ballet of info. See
if you can guess what these bee dance
moves tell other bees about the food
they’ve found.
A. A fast, long dance.
B. Flying up or flying down.
C. An even longer, more enthusiastic
dance.
Guess, then check your answers below.
Fun Fact
Paper wasps can recognise other
wasp faces!
Who
could forget
this face?
WAGGLE DANCE
A. The food is far away. B. The direction of the
food source. C. It’s top-quality food, guys!
Cool tools
EARTH’S SMARTEST ANIMALS
Humans are primates, and when we think
of the very cleverest animals, we think of
those we’re most closely related to: our
fellow big-brained primates.
This gorilla is using a branch as a tool!
Chatty chimps
Chimps use at least 69 hand movements
to say 19 different things, including
“Groom me here!” and “Oi, budge up!”
Seventeen thousand people logged in
online to watch chimp videos, and many
correctly guessed what their signals
meant, even without training. Hmm,
maybe our language started out that way!
Of monkeys and apes, we reckon great
apes (gorillas, bonobos, orangutans
and chimpanzees) are mostly the
brainiest bunch. Yet recent studies
hint that monkeys are brighter than we
thought, can think deeply and make
careful decisions. Sorry for doubting
you, monkeys!
See –
we capuchin
monkeys use
tools, too!
Yet orangutans seem to be the smartest.
They use many different tools, teach
skills to their young, and can build
excellent nests in record time – as little as
five minutes!
But remember, just like humans,
intelligence varies from animal to animal.
Not every animal in a species is the same.
So, which ape is the number-one
smarty-pants?
Ape-wise, chimps are very clever.
Although we can’t sit down and have a
regular chat with one another, a recent
study shows that humans and chimps
may be able to understand each other
quite well.
Speaking of humans, how
would animals rate how smart
we are? What if they knew how
much damage many of us do to the
natural world? We could get Charlie
to ask a few – but I’m not sure we
dare! And speaking of Charlie…
7
A Border Collie!
Illustration by Leah Ingledew
Charlie
Meets…
By JD Savage
It’s me, Charlie, the
Eco Kid who can chat
with animals. This time,
I’m meeting a dog said
to belong to the smartest
breed on Earth!
the hills – well, not for long! I’ll collect
them and bring them back.
Charlie: Not every border collie is supersmart or skilled. Their talents vary from
dog to dog – but I heard about one that’s
very clever. It’s Rocco, my uncle’s dog.
Charlie: But where does staring come
into it?
My uncle is a sheep farmer, so I’m at his
farm in Scotland. Ah, there’s Rocco. Hey,
Rocco, I’m Charlie!
Oh, I don’t like the way he’s staring at me.
Rocco: Don’t be scared – I know you
are. I can read how humans are feeling
from your faces. Just one of my border
collie superpowers!
Charlie: It’s the way you were staring.
Rocco: I was just practising for when I
next herd the sheep.
Charlie: That’s when you make them all
move around together as a group, isn’t it?
Rocco: It’s how I get them where we want
them to be. They might be grazing up in
8
Charlie: My uncle said you love herding.
Rocco: You bet! It’s in my blood. If you’d
come here with more kids, I’d want to
herd you all, too!
Rocco: Firstly, I glare at the sheep. It
scares them – and that’s how I control
them. They do what I want when they’re
afraid of me.
Sheep: Someone should tell him it’s rude
to stare.
Charlie: Hey, it’s one of my uncle’s sheep!
Sheep: Yes, I saw you coming – and we
sheep are very curious.
Rocco: Don’t worry, Charlie, I’ll soon
chase this woolly wanderer back to
the herd!
BORN TO HERD
Crossing ancient Roman-era and
Viking-era herding dogs created the
border collie breed!
Charlie: Wait till we’ve finished our chat,
Rocco. My uncle tells me you learn new
skills very quickly.
Rocco: Yes, and I can recognise lots of
human words.
Sheep: Sheep are clever, too.
Sheep: Sheep are more than just fluffy
faces. We all have different personalities
and can tell how our baa-buddies
are feeling.
Charlie: So, sheep are smarter than
people think.
Rocco: Who cares? I can name 20 of my
toys and roll a car window down with
my paw.
That stare would give me the collie-wobbles!
Rocco: What’s that sheep bleating about
now? This is my spotlight!
Charlie: Tell me about the words you
know, Rocco.
Rocco: When your uncle shouts “Come
aye!” I know to move clockwise around the
sheep herd. And when he shouts “Away!” I
move the other way around. And when he
yells “Look back!” I focus on another part
of the bleat brigade.
Sheep: In fact, sheep are very clever
indeed. Do you know why we all
flock together?
Charlie: Why?
Sheep: For protection from snappy
creatures like him.
Rocco: Tell Fleece Face to be quiet! I need
new mental challenges all the time, so
now your uncle is teaching me to respond
to whistles instead of words.
Fun Fact
A border collie called Chaser
understood over 1,000 object names!
Sheep: I know when I’m sick and which
plants will make me feel better if I eat
them. Clever, eh?
Charlie: Well, it’s been great meeting you
both. I think many animals are smarter
than we humans think. Anyway, Rocco,
I’ve brought a ball for you to chase – and I
can hide it for you, too.
Rocco: Fantastic – but first, duty calls! I’ll
just chase this grass-gobbler back to the
herd. Time to switch on the scare stare!
Rocco found the ball every
time – but now I want to
learn more about woolly
wisdom, too.
9
African Grey
Parrots
Bird brains with a heart
African grey parrots are truly remarkable
creatures. But their existence is under
severe threat.
Not just pretty feathers
Found in the lowland rainforests of
western and central Africa, African greys
are a sight to behold – adorned in shades
of grey with a vivid red tail. But it’s not
their stunning attire that sets them apart
– it’s their remarkable intelligence.
These brainy birds can figure out
puzzles and tasks that stump many other
animals. They can even crunch some
basic numbers. Imagine a bird that can
do maths!
Alex was a famous grey parrot,
trained by biologist Irene
Pepperberg. He could count up to
eight and identify objects, shapes,
colours and materials. Remarkably,
he even grasped the notion of
‘same’ and ‘different’. If, for
example, Alex was given
a blue wooden triangle
and a blue wooden
square and asked,
“What’s different?”
he replied: “Shape.”
Maestro of mimicry
One of the most fascinating things about
African grey parrots is their ability to
mimic human speech. They can also copy
some everyday sounds around them –
from a casual whistle, ringing telephone
or buzzing doorbell to a siren’s wail, a
microwave’s beep, a cat’s meow and even
a dog’s bark. They listen to the sounds
around them and repeat them with
astonishing accuracy.
Did you know there are around 350 parrot
species in the world? Out of all of them,
the African greys take the crown as the
best mimics of human speech.
Prudle, a male African grey, earned a
place in the Guinness World Records
book with an impressive vocabulary
of over 1,000 words!
These masters of mimicry aren’t just
copycats; they’re comedians, too. Grey
parrot Alex developed a sense of humour
and made people laugh when Irene
showcased him at events.
oto
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©
Europe and Asia.
The practice of
capturing them
from the wild
for illegal pet
trade poses a
grave threat to
their survival.
On top of this,
their homes are
being destroyed.
As forests are cleared for timber and
farming, the parrots lose their natural
habitats. With dwindling safe places to
live, they struggle to find food and raise
their young.
Sadly, the African grey parrot population
is shrinking alarmingly, by up to 21% each
year. In Ghana (a West African country)
alone, their numbers have plunged by up
to 99% since 1992.
What can we do to help?
Here’s what you can do to make
a difference:
1. Spread the word: Tell your friends and
family about African grey parrots
and why they’re in danger. The more
awareness, the more help we can rally.
Helpful feathers
Remarkably, these intelligent birds are
also incredibly compassionate. In the wild,
they have been seen helping other birds in
need. If a fellow parrot is sick or injured,
they bring them food and offer comfort.
In experiments, the generous greys
simply couldn’t resist lending a helping
wing to a fellow parrot – even if they were
total strangers!
Why are they endangered?
Greys’ unique talents and amusing
personalities make them popular pets in
2. Support conservation:
There are organisations,
such as the World Parrot
Trust, dedicated to
protecting these birds
and their habitats. You
can lend a hand by
donating or participating
in their initiatives.
3. Choose adoption: If you’re thinking
about getting a pet bird, make sure you
adopt one from a rescue organisation
instead of buying one.
Let’s work together to ensure that African
grey parrots continue to thrive in the wild
for generations to come!
Vocabulary
Adorned: Made more beautiful.
11
Ask the
EXPERT
Interview by Daisy Fox
The Genius
Octopus
Rosa and Ada: Are octopuses
the smartest animals in the
sea? Are they smarter
than dolphins?
Matt Slater, Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Matt Slater is the marine conservation
officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust. He is a
keen diver and loves spotting octopuses.
He has observed octopus behaviour both
in the wild and in an aquarium.
Octopuses are the brainiest
spineless sea creatures – they
boast the largest brain-to-body
ratio. However, comparing their
intelligence with other marine
life is tricky. Dolphins resemble
humans more. They live in social
groups, communicate with
each other and work together.
Octopuses, on the other hand, are
solitary animals. There are also
some brainy fish in the sea, so
who is the smartest is a tough call.
I love octopuses because they are
fascinating, beautiful and seem so
alien. My favourite species is the
common octopus. It’s actually a
rare gem in UK waters, making its
name quite a mismatch. Spotting
one during a dive feels truly
magical. They are so good at hiding,
they only appear when they want
you to see them. I love the way that,
with a quick colour change, they can
disappear in front of your very eyes.
12
© Matt Slater
Josiah: What is your favourite
kind of octopus? Mine is the
dumbo octopus.
Seren: In what ways do octopuses
show us they are smart? Can
they count?
Octopuses may be able to count but it
is challenging to prove. They certainly
showcase remarkable intelligence when
it comes to finding food. They are also
very good at camouflage and evading
predators. A fascinating fact is that each
of their eight arms has its own brain, so
the arms are in effect doing their own
thinking! They are also able to use tools.
Some octopuses carry around shells
or even coconut husks to hide in – like
little portable dens.
Octopus camouflaged
on a rock underwater
Irona: How do octopuses
show emotions?
Octopuses have a fascinating
ability to shift colours
instantly, which often
reveals their emotions. But
they also change colours for
camouflage, to confuse prey,
and to scare off predators.
The colour red is particularly
common among octopuses.
Why? There is very little red
light underwater (which is
why the sea looks blue). So,
when an octopus turns red,
it’s practically invisible!
© Matt Slater
Elma: How good is an
octopus's memory?
Octopuses are phenomenal
hunters. We think they have
a detailed mental map of the
area they hunt in as they can
always find their way home
in the dark. In experiments
with mazes, these creatures
demonstrated an ability to
learn and remember routes.
13
Eva: Can octopuses solve puzzles?
At our aquarium, we designed a food
puzzle box where an octopus had to
lift a latch to get inside. They mastered
this easily! The next task involved
turning a key to open the door. Some
were able to figure that out, but none
could insert the key into the lock and
turn it. Octopuses can learn how to
find food in a maze, they can also
open containers to get food. Some
can unscrew jars, as long as they are
not tightly closed. The octopuses I
have observed seem to pull randomly
until the lid pops open rather than
twisting the lid off.
Beren: Would you be able to
teach an octopus to communicate
with us?
Octopuses in aquariums can
communicate basic needs to
humans. They signal that they are
hungry or that they want to play by
coming up to the top of their tank.
They don’t have any way of doing
more complex communication. In
the wild, if you visit an octopus
frequently, you may be able to teach
it to trust you and to ask for food.
© dpa picture alliance/
Alamy Stock Photo
Theodore: Can an octopus form a
relationship with a human?
Zachary: What is the smartest
thing you've ever seen an octopus
do in the wild?
When you are diving near an octopus,
they might either try to hide or
curiously inspect you. I once had
an octopus come and look at its
reflection in my camera lens. And
you know, I’ve heard stories of them
following divers, hoping to snag a
snack, like a tasty crab!
Octopuses seem to be able to
recognise individual people. At the
aquarium, we noticed that certain
team members were more popular
among the octopuses than others!
Octopuses have taste buds on the
suckers of their tentacles. They
may be able to taste the difference
between people. They have excellent
eyesight, so are likely to be able to see
your face, too. There was a common
octopus called Solomon who was
brilliant at jar-opening for food. He
loved to play and grab on to my arm.
Among them all, the giant Pacific
octopuses were the friendliest, always
eager for a wrestling match!
Giant Pacific octopus, the largest octopus
in the world
Playing with a curious octopus
14
For more information about our seas, see
www.wildlifetrusts.org.
© Mark Hamblin/naturepl.com
Scotland, UK
Raven Calling
4. Draw another circle
about 1cm inward
from the edge of the
smaller circle.
5. Continue the
lines from the
larger circle on to
the smaller one.
Code Breaker
Make a cypher wheel and send coded
messages to your friends!
You will need (for each wheel)
• Thin card (a cereal box works well)
• Scissors
• A pen and a pencil
• A ruler
• A split pin
1. Draw two circles on a piece of card,
one with a diameter of 12cm, and the
other with a diameter of 10cm.
2. Using a ruler, find
the precise centre
of the larger
circle. Divide
the circle into
halves, then
quarters,
and continue
dividing each
section until you
have 32 equal parts.
3. Place the smaller circle atop the larger
one, ensuring their centres align. Insert
a split pin through the centre of both
circles. Separate the legs of the pin at
the back to secure the
circles together.
16
How to write a code
Turn the inner circle so that A aligns with
a different letter on the outer wheel –
for example, D. Find the letters for your
message on the inner wheel but write
down the outer letter instead.
For example: if A on the inner wheel aligns
with D on the outer wheel, ARM would
become DUP.
Inner wheel: A R M
Outer wheel: D U P
Send a coded message to your friend.
Tell them which letter to align with A and
they can use their own wheel to crack
your code.
Try these!
Turn your wheel so that A on the inner
wheel aligns with D on the outer wheel.
Which animals do these codes represent?
DQW
GRJ
ILVK
OLRQ
SHQJXLQ
Find the answers on page 33.
Craft by Daisy Fox
Monthly Project
6. Write the letters of
the alphabet and
numbers 1-6 around
the perimeters of
each circle.
Wildlife
News!
Get ready for another wild
ride with amazing photos,
ape antics, toad tales and
deep-sea discoveries!
51
.
0
N
!
s
t
r
o
Rhona Rep
And don’t forget about me – Rusty!
Rhona’s helper: JD Savage
ICE BED
Wildlife Photographer of
the Year is one of the best
nature photo contests. The
top shots that the public
voted for in this year’s
People’s Choice Award
are just in – and they’re
incredible! I’ll show you
my favourites.
One handy polar bear
skill is sculpting beds
out of small icebergs –
and the overall winner
proves it! The photo is by
Nima Sarikhani.
©Nima Sarikhani/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
She spent three days
looking for polar bears in
the far north off Norway’s
Svalbard group of islands.
No luck at first – I guess it
was hard to see polar bears
through the thick fog there.
But she got lucky. The
boat she was on changed
course, heading south-east,
where some sea ice was
still floating around.
Bingo! That’s where she
spotted a young polar
bear and an older male.
Just before midnight, the
younger bear hopped on
to a tiny iceberg. He used
his powerful paws to carve
out a cosy bed before
dozing off.
Looks snug and cosy, eh?
Well, it does until you
remember it’s a freezing
cold hunk of ice! Still, I
bet it’s comfier than my
annoying little brother
Rusty’s bed. That’s always
full of biscuit wrappers,
crumbs and sharp little
model dinosaurs – and the
sheets look like a tornado
hit them!
NEWSFLASH!
A UK man found a live
baby crocodile gecko in
a bag of chillies bought
at Asda the week before
and then kept in his
fridge! He managed to
keep the little lizard
alive for a further
10 days.
NEWSFLASH!
Four massive
underwater mountains
were discovered off the
west coast of South and
Central America. They
might be teeming with
deep-sea wildlife!
17
NEWSFLASH!
NEWSFLASH!
All apes have a sense of
humour like ours! They
tease and annoy each
other for fun by poking,
tickling and stealing.
A Japanese snow
monkey who made a
daring escape from a
Scottish wildlife park
was seen nicking nuts
from a birdfeeder in a
nearby village garden!
He enjoyed his freedom
for five whole days.
Look at these startling
starlings! This entry is
incredible – and weird
enough for our weirdness
expert Simon to love
it, too!
Daniel Dencescu took it.
The movements of a mass
of starlings fascinated him
as they formed massive
shapes in the sky. Each
day, as they returned from
food-finding, the birds
gathered in large numbers
and performed sky dances
on their flight home to the
roosts they shared. It’s
called murmuration (say
“mer-mer-ray-shun”) and
starlings are the only birds
that do it.
Daniel wanted to find
the best roosting sites to
capture the sight, so he
followed the flock around
Rome for hours. Finally,
on that cloudless winter’s
day, the starlings swirled
into the shape of a giant
bird! Can you believe it?
18
THE HAPPY TURTLE
How great to see a pond
turtle sharing a peaceful
moment with a dragonfly!
Tzahi Finkelstein was in
his birdwatching shelter,
The dragonfly
unexpectedly perched
on the turtle’s nose.
Instead of gobbling up the
insect, the turtle seemed
to enjoy the visit!
SHARED PARENTING
And how cool is this image by Mark Boyd from Kenya?
It shows a pair of lionesses grooming one of their
pride’s five cubs!
Wildlife
Photographer
of the Year is
developed and
produced by
the Natural
History
Museum,
London.
© Mark Boyd/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
© Daniel Dencescu/Wildlife
Photographer of the Year
STARLING
MURMURATION
© Tzahi Finkelstein/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Bugging Rhona is definitely
the funniest thing I know! –
Rusty
snapping photos of shore
birds in Israel’s Jezreel
Valley. He spotted the
turtle strolling in the
shallow, murky swamp
water nearby. At first, he
ignored the turtle and
carried on watching the
birds. But when a northern
banded groundling
dragonfly flew past his lens
in the turtle’s direction,
his focus changed.
THIS ROAD’S FOR TOADS!
Charlcombe Lane in Bath
is closed for six weeks so
toads, frogs and newts can
cross to their breeding
grounds. Every year, after
hibernation, they brave the
perilous journey across
the road to return to
NEWSFLASH!
© Tash Murch/
Cornwall Wildlife Trust
A humpback whale was
spotted off the coast
of Cornwall on 1st
February. That’s the
third sighting lately!
NEWSFLASH!
A tiny mushroom
growing from a goldenbacked frog in India
stunned scientists.
We’ve never seen fungi
grow a mushroom from
a living animal before!
their breeding lake in the
valley below.
The road closure has
taken place each spring
since 2003. There’s a
Charlcombe Toad Rescue
group on patrol, hoping
to help about 2,500
amphibians cross safely.
These volunteers patrol
each evening to ensure the
crossing creatures have a
safe journey.
About 20 tonnes of migrating
toads are killed by traffic
each year, so it’s fantastic
that we have toad teams
like this around the UK!
NEWSFLASH!
A bizarre jellyfish
species with a stomach
that looks like a
bright red cross was
discovered in Japan!
SMOOTH, SHINY SURPRISE
Four jet-black never-before-seen ‘eggs’ were dredged
up from one of the ocean’s deepest trenches – with
creatures inside!
They were discovered over 6,000 metres deep in the
Kuril-Kamchatka Trench in the north-west Pacific. At
first, they looked
like pearls – but
turned out to be
record–breaking
flatworm cocoons.
We never knew
flatworms could
Marine flatworms
live at such
can
look amazing!
incredible depths!
SWAPPING SHELLS
FOR LITTER!
More and more hermit
crabs, which usually find
hollow shells to protect
their bodies, are opting
to use our plastic waste
instead! They’ve started
sporting things like bottle
tops and toothpaste lids
as armour. It shows how
much litter is out there!
They can get trapped in
larger items or mistake
broken-down items for
food. I try to avoid singleuse plastics whenever
possible and never flush
plastic down the loo!
But many hermit crabs
and other creatures are
often hurt by plastic.
Sorry, but now I have to hand you over to Rusty. Please
forgive me!
19
my bedroom. Sadly, it’s
right next to Rhona’s room,
but I barricade the door so
she can’t barge in to boss
me around.
Anyway, imagine looking
forward to a nice rest there
– and finding it full of cows!
CHEEKY COWS!
Hi, Rusty fans!
My story is better than all
of Rhona’s put together.
Have you got a chill-out
zone? Somewhere to
play games, escape your
annoying sister, and think
about dinosaurs? (Well,
that’s what I do.) Mine’s
It happened to 19-yearold Michael Andrew. He
works on his family farm
in Cornwall. That’s where
he’s raised five tame cows
from when they were just
five-week-old calves.
After working hard all day,
he aimed to game. But
his relaxation room had
turned into Cow Central!
His cows had found their
way in and trashed the
room, a radio and his Xbox.
They also wrecked the
rug by pooing all over it,
ponging the place out. He
found one cow snuggling
on his sofa!
He thinks one must have
scratched her head on the
door handle and opened
the door by accident. But
how did they shut it behind
them, pull the curtains
and turn the light on? It’s
a moo-stery!
It would be a hoot if Rhona
found her bedroom packed
with cows! I wonder if I
open the front door and
leave a trail of grass going
up the stairs…
Rusty
Rusty, your
bedroom always
looks like a herd
of buffalo have
trashed it!
Rhona
Why is our
human in a
bad moo-d?
20
Find the solution on page 33.
NARE’S
DREAM AMS
Some clever animals and plants have
discovered that joining forces is a gamechanger, especially when survival is at stake.
Let’s look at some of nature’s most
ingenious collaborations.
Grouper and moray eel –
the dynamic duo of wicked hunters
Groupers are expert open-water hunters.
But imagine chasing a tasty meal only to
watch it vanish into a dense coral reef!
The bulky grouper has no chance of fitting
through those tight spaces.
Luckily, this clever fish has a sleek ally
– the giant moral eel. This long, slinky
creature slides effortlessly through the
coral maze, ambushing prey.
Do you think these hunting buddies share
their dinner? Guess, then check the
answer below.
Did You Know?
Fire ants can survive a flood by linking
their legs together to make a raft.
They group themselves around the
queen and her eggs. The living raft
floats away, transporting the colony to
dry ground.
Lead the
way, Grouper!
Psst,
Eel!
Answer:
No. The one that catches the prey swallows it
whole immediately.
©Helmut Corneli/Alamy Stock Photo
Now, when the grouper’s daytime hunt
leads to the prey escaping into the coral,
it heads straight to the eel. With a shake
of its head, the grouper signals to the eel,
who follows it to the hiding spot. The
eel then sneaks into the reef to flush the
prey out.
And for the unfortunate fish on the run,
it’s a no-win situation. If it hides in the
reef, it is eaten by the eel. If it dashes
out of the reef, it is gobbled up by the
grouper. Talk about being stuck between a
rock and a hard place. Or, in this case, an
eel and a grouper.
Courtesy of D. Hu
Have you ever
heard the phrase
“teamwork makes
the dream work”?
22
© Philippe Clement/naturepl.com
Lion – fierce and focused cat collective
If there’s one animal famous for
teamwork, it’s the lion.
Unlike other big cats, lions are not fast
runners. They can only maintain their top
speeds (up to 80km/h) in short bursts.
So, they rely on strategy over speed.
Lionesses use special tactics during a
hunt. Just like a sports team, each lioness
takes on a designated position – centre,
left wing or right wing.
When one of them spots prey, they all lock
eyes on it. Then, it’s game on! The group
fans out, with some lionesses hiding in
the long grass, while others stalk at a
greater distance to surround the prey.
The encircling lionesses launch the
attack. They chase the frightened animals
straight towards the hidden teammates.
Research says the group is 10% more
successful when lions hunt in their
preferred roles. Go team!
Borneo’s pitcher plant – a living,
breathing, green toilet bowl!
Hardwicke’s woolly bats find this funky
plant an irresistible roosting site. They
snuggle into its cosy interior during the
day. As they snooze, they poop, providing
the perfect nitrogen-rich diet for the plant.
In return, the pitchers provide luxury
accommodation for the little bats. Their
shape is ideal, their location is easily
found via echolocation, and their waxy
inside walls keep insects from laying eggs.
A pest-free haven for the bats – perfect!
© Minden Pictures/Alamy Stock Photo
Pitcher plants need nitrogen to survive,
but the soil they grow in often lacks
enough. So, what’s a plant to do? The
Nepenthes hemsleyana, a unique
pitcher plant, found a clever solution – it
transforms into a bat toilet.
23
WEIRD CVER
CREARES!
Simon’s helper: JD Savage
Animals can
outsmart us in the
wildest ways…
WHEN ANIMALS OUTWIT US
ESC-APES!
One amazing animal escape artist was
a mischievous orangutan named Ken
Allen. Ken was always busting out of his
enclosure at San Diego Zoo, scaling its
wall even after the staff made it taller.
Animals have a knack for breaking free
from captivity.
You’ve heard of Christmas carols – well,
here’s a Christmas camel. In Kansas,
USA, in December 2021, people used a
real dromedary for a Christmas nativity
scene. She saw her chance to make
a bolt for it and fled, escaping down
a highway and then strolling around
some neighbourhoods.
We
can zoom
at 65km per
hour in short
bursts!
The police and animal control officers
spent a day trying to recapture her – I bet
they really got the hump! And when she
wandered on to a golf course, they had to
give chase in a fleet of golf carts. But don’t
worry, she was safely wrangled back in
the end.
24
When he was young, he’d unscrew the
bolts of his nursery at night and go out for
a stroll. He sneakily put everything back
in place before his keepers arrived in
the morning, so they wouldn’t been out!
he’d gone!
It seems Ken was an influencer. Two
female orangutans, Jane and Kumang,
aped his actions. They found a long
window-washing squeegee and boosted
themselves over the wall by climbing up
it. Hey, maybe Ken Allen
held it steady for them.
Give orangutans
tools, and who
knows what antics
they’ll get up to?!
Fun Fact
In the 1980s, a gorilla named Evelyn
would jump on a fellow gorilla’s back
to vault over her high enclosure wall
at Los Angeles Zoo!
Fun Fact
A monkey that escaped its enclosure
at Paignton Zoo, Devon, last year was
found hiding among the rhinos!
Crafty cockatoos
A few years ago, sulphur-crested
cockatoos in Sydney, Australia, learned
to open flip-top rubbish bins with their
beaks and feet. All for a taste of the trashy
‘treasures’ inside!
They learned how by watching each
other, so I guess one pecking pioneer
hatched the plan first. It started in three
neighbourhoods and soon spread to a
further 44!
Easy!
The locals tried more than 50 ways to
stop the bin-diving birds, from weighing
down the lids with bricks to rigging
ropes around them. The cockatoos still
outsmarted them!
Those bird bandits could tell the redlidded general waste bins apart from
the yellow-lidded recycling bins by their
colour – 88.8% of the time, they opened
the general waste bins!
How brainy are these parrots? Goffin’s
cockatoos not only use tools to get their
jobs done but also carry and use a whole
toolkit for trickier jobs! They turn little
branches into knives, wedges and even
spoons for scooping seeds out of fruit.
QU ICK QU IZ
What’s the only other animal we’ve
spotted using a whole toolkit in the
wild? Check below.
We
*RI¿Q¶VDUH
ERI¿QV
Fun Fact
Cockatoos may be smarter than
human toddlers!
QUICK QUIZ!
Chimpanzees!
Many sneaky animals are great at getting
into our rubbish, no matter how hard we
try to stop them.
There’s
enough for
everyone!
25
Raccoons are also great bin bandits,
usually raiding rubbish at night. In
Toronto, Canada, some worked out how to
knock bins over and turn the handle lock
on their lids, unlocking them. They don’t
learn from each other like cockatoos,
so maybe they sussed out the skill by
sheer chance!
CUNNING CORVIDS
The corvid family – which includes crows,
ravens, rooks, magpies and jackdaws – are
among the cleverest animals.
Some experts think crows are even the
next brainiest beings after primates like
us. Their thinking skills can rival sevenyear-old humans!
Don’t
look so
surprised!
This bin bandit even has a bandit’s mask!
City smarts
Some experts think living in cities
gives some animals a leg-up in the
smarty-pants stakes.
In some countries, they drop walnuts
into the middle of roads, using passing
vehicles as handy nutcrackers. And
they’re not just winging it. They choose
spots near traffic lights to safely swoop
down for their snacks when the cars stop.
I hope
there are
no train
strikes this
week!
Just check out the London Underground,
where pigeons peck for crumbs on the
platforms. When a train pulls in, some hop
on board, hitch a ride to the next station,
and begin a fresh food hunt there!
Pigeons are smart, but they’re not the
brightest city bird brainiacs…
26
On the islands of New Caledonia, in
the South Pacific, crows make and use
their own tools. They use their beaks as
scissors to fashion hooks from soft twigs
and rakes from stiff, leathery leaves. They
delve deep into tree trunks with them,
hooking out juicy grubs!
CVEREST CREARES OF MY AND FORE
You know how much I love myths, legends
and folk tales. Well, I decided to delve in
to find their smartest weird creature.
I like the cunning, mischievous – and
dangerous – kitsune (say “kit-sun-ay”),
trickster foxes from Japanese folklore.
Their tails split into more tails as they
get wiser and more powerful – some even
boasting nine tails!
© Steve Lillie/Alamy Stock Photo
sphinx also had a second riddle, so see if
you can answer that one, too:
“There are two sisters: one gives
birth to the other and she, in
turn, gives birth to the first. What
are they?”
Check your answers to both riddles below.
Wow, this one must be pretty wise and powerful!
But the sphinx (say “sfinx”) fascinates
me the most. This strange being stars in
ancient Greek and ancient Egyptian art
and legends. It had a lion’s body, a human
head, and in Greek legend, an eagle’s
majestic wings.
It was fearsome but clever. It only ate you
if you couldn’t solve its riddle.
According to legend, a sphinx of Ancient
Greece would ask:
“What has one voice and yet
becomes four-footed and twofooted and three-footed?”
Would you become a sphinx snack or
survive? But wait, you don’t escape so
easily! That riddle is well known. The
Here’s the famous limestone statue of the
Sphinx of Giza!
Did you outsmart the
sphinx both times?
RIDDLES
RIDDLE 1: A human – who crawls on all fours as
an infant, walks on two legs after that, and leans
on a stick in old age. RIDDLE 2: The two sisters
are Day and Night.
Would you be a sphinx’s dinner?
27
Simon
Asks…
Which Clever
Creature Are YOU?
We humans see
ourselves as the
brightest beings, but
there are many other
clever creatures out
there, and I bet you’re
like one of them.
Pick which one of these descriptions you
most identify with, and then head to page
34. You’ll discover which animal you are
most like. But be smart enough not to
look ahead before you pick, or you’ll spoil
the surprise.
When you’ve found out, why not pretend
to be that animal and see if anyone’s
clever enough to guess what you are?
Then give them the test and see which
smart animal they are!
W HICH OF T HESE BEST DESCRIBES YOU?
B
A
I like to mentor younger
kids, sharing my wisdom
and skills. I like talking
about the past, too, and I’d
say my hands are as skilled
as my mind. I reckon I
could craft tools as well as
use them!
Teach me how to sing,
dance or perform tricks
and I’ll learn fast. But I’m
mischievous and cheeky,
and in the end, no matter
what you teach me, I’ll
always do what I want!
D
C
I’m great at puzzles and
navigating – I always
work out and remember
the quickest route to my
favourite spots. Plus, I like
sweet, sugary food and can
rock some cool moves on
the dance floor!
28
I’m sharper than I
may seem, with a vivid
imagination. I can
remember everywhere I’ve
visited and how I got there
– and I’m great at planning
return trips.
E
My memory for faces is
top-notch – both friends
and foes! I’m handy with
tools, too, especially after
someone shows me how to
use them. I may not be the
very brightest spark but,
oh boy, have I got cunning
tricks up my sleeve!
F
Safety’s my middle name,
and can I escape if you keep
me cooped up? Easy-peasy
– I’ll sneak away under your
eyes! I’m also endlessly
curious – oh, and I like
squirting people!
G
I can solve just about any
problem, but you need to
give me a good reason to, or
I can’t be bothered. To be
honest, I prefer exercising
my jaws (on food) to
exercising my brain – and
will eat just about anything!
H
I’m a great talker and I can
mimic almost anybody
else’s voice! I also reckon
I’d be a top detective,
solving mysteries by
examining and thinking
about all the facts. All I’d
need is some clues!
I
I talk with my hands as
much as my voice – I
can hardly keep them
still when I chat! I’m a
problem solver, and quick
at learning new languages
and phrases.
J
People peg me as messy
and greedy, but they’re
missing my best points. I’m
very smart and can adapt to
any situation. OK, I’m also
a tad greedy and I get dirty,
but who’s perfect?
K
Quick on the uptake, I
can solve problems, and
copy or teach others with
ease. I’m also a pro at
turning boringness into
fun, can make a game out
of anything, and I’m always
ready to play.
Have you chosen?
Now turn to page 34!
29
Eye-Popping Crossword
1
2
Down:
1. Tactic for blending
in, often used by
octopuses.
2. Bats’ favourite
plant for sleeping
and pooping.
4. Big cat known for
strategic hunting.
6. Buzzing
mathematicians
with a talent for
dance moves.
9. Nocturnal
scavenger known
for its dumpster
diving skills.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Across:
3. Mythical creature with a lion’s body and human head.
5. Phenomenal hunter and master of disguise.
7. The bulky hunting buddy of the moray eel.
8. Mammal with a hefty brain.
10. A brainy great ape.
11. Genius bird family including crows and ravens.
Wild Questions
Test your knowledge with these multiple-choice questions. No wild guesses!
1. Which animals
assist in
earthquake search
and rescue efforts?
a. Pigeons
b. Pigs
c. Rats
d. Honeybees
30
2. What’s the
biggest threat
to African grey
parrots?
a. Illegal pet trade
b. Global warming
c. Pollution
d. Trophy hunting
3. Which animal
isn’t a great ape?
4. What can’t an
octopus do?
a. Chimpanzee
b. Mandrill
c. Gorilla
d. Bonobo
a. Twist off a jar lid
b. Remember a
face
c. Play chess
d. Shift its skin
colour
Octopus
Tangle
Our octopus is in a twist
with its eight tentacles.
Lend a hand by linking the
numbers (A-H) and letters
(1-8) for each tentacle.
Find the Correct Shadow
1
2
3
4
5
6
Spot 12
Differences
© Cartoonstock.com
Joke Corner
Find the answers on page 33.
31
Over
to You
In our January ‘Tree-Dwellers’
issue, we invited you to write a
short story or poem. A hearty
thank you to all who joined in.
Your imaginative pieces were a
joy to read.
Kudos to our
three winners:
Natalia, age 10,
Welford-on-Avon
frog
The iguana and the
0, Malton
Annie, age 1
Orangutan
ture so slow –
In the depths of the jungle, hangs a crea
here to go.
A sloth, so lazy and content, with now
h the trees,
Its fur, a shade of brown, blending wit
ceful ease.
Easily overlooked, but oh, it’s such a pea
e,
With every movement, it takes its tim
No need to rush, no need to climb.
rhythm and pace,
It simply hangs and sways, in its own
embrace.
A reminder to us all, to slow down and
Its claws are sharp, but oh-so gentle,
FHIXO
1HYHULQÀLFWLQJSDLQQHYHUEHLQJWRRIRU
ds,
It eats and sleeps, and that’s all it nee
s.
No worries, no stress, in this life it lead
A sloth, so simple, yet so wise
Teaching us to live, without any lies.
message so true,
For in its slow demeanour, there lies a
ath and enjoy the view.
Sometimes, it’s best to just take a bre
Joshua, age 9, B
edford
Sloth
To see more of your amazing entries, go to
www.ecokidsplanet.co.uk/tree-dwellers-competition
Answers
Spot 12 Differences
ANT
DOG
FISH
LION
PENGUIN
Clever Crossword
1
C
2
3
S P H
4
L
I
P
A
I N X
M
T
O
5
O C T O P U S
H
F
7
G R O U P E R
N
A
R
10
C H
Amelia the Fox and Alfie
E
G
Y
I M P A N Z E E
C
11
C O R V
3
H
O
E L E P H A N T
9
The Correct
Shadow
6
8
R
Code Breaker
B
E
I D
O
E
S
O
N
Octopus Tangle
1- E, 2 - C, 3 - D, 4 - B,
5 - A, 6 - H, 7 - G, 8 - F
Wild Questions
1. C
2. A
3. B
4. C
33
Which Clever Creature Are YOU?
Did you take Simon’s questionnaire on
pages 28-29? Here’s where you’ll find out
which clever creature you’re most like.
F An octopus!
If you answered:
A A cockatoo!
G A goat!
B An orangutan!
H An African
grey parrot!
C A bee!
I A chimpanzee!
D A rat!
K A dolphin!
E A crow!
34
J A pig!
Pet Talent Show
Monthly Competition
Do you dream of adopting a
dog or a chatty parrot? What
if you could teach your pet to
do something new and mindblowing? For this month’s
contest, grab your pens, paints
or crayons, and draw your ideal
pet! Tell us about the epic tricks
you’d love your pet to pull off!
FOUR lucky readers will win this exciting
workbook from Mass Audubon.
Nature Smarts Workbook
4 TO!
WIN
Learn about wildlife, geology, Earth
science, habitats and more with naturethemed puzzles, games, quizzes and
hands-on outdoor experiments.
From discovering the life of rocks, playing
detective with clouds, and distinguishing
creatures with and without backbones
to recognising bird beaks and plant
parts, this book complements school
STEM lessons. It’s a fun-filled adventure
designed to nurture our future naturalists
and conservationists.
Ages 7-9
RRP: £7.99
How to enter the competition: Send your entry to win@ecokidsplanet.co.uk.
Your submission must arrive before 10th April 2024. Don’t forget to include your full name,
age and address, so we know how to reach you.
35
IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF ECO KIDS PLANET
Extreme
Eaters
Issue 114
April 2024
Pickiest and
Least Picky
Eaters!
Amy investigates…
When Eating
Gets Weird!
Simon discovers…
Feeding
Wildlife:
Right or
Wrong?
Eco Kids debate…
Plants Fight
Back
Discover their
crafty defences!
Charlie Meets a
Pygmy Shrew
The animal kingdom’s
most voracious eater!
How Our Food Choices
Threaten Wildlife
Endangered Creature Feature
ecokidsplanet.co.uk