Photo:  Northland, New Zealand -- By Brendon Crook

Today is World Rainforest Day which was founded in 2017 to celebrate the importance of healthy rainforests for climate and biodiversity 

​                                       www.worldrainforestday.org/

Rainforests globally are under threat by pollution, climate change and deforestation. 

There are 2 types of rainforest, Temperate and Tropical.

Thought to cover around 14% of the earth Tropical rainforests now cover only 6% yet over half of the worlds species of flora and fauna live here. 

They with the human cultures that live solely within the rainforests can only survive here. 

The links below cover many of the reasons for the destruction of the global rainforests and also contain some interesting facts on the creatures that inhabit them. 
earthobservatory.nasa.gov/biome/biorainforest.php

rainforestfoundation.org/?utm_source=google_cpc&utm_medium=ad_grant&utm_campaign=awareness&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw-b-kBhB-EiwA4fvKrJvynH2j0XRLH5pjzARG2fCAa0l3kcsQkIPNOVsRfxcMD5aX6RPbZxoCVgsQAvD_BwE


KIDS CORNER
​kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/rainforest.html

www.rainforestconcern.org/forest-facts/why-are-rainforests-important

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEQMEllUyks



​By Brendon Crook

Photo:  Savanah Giraffe (Male) - Hans Hillewaert - Wikipedia Common use license. 


​Today is World Giraffe Day.

Giraffes are the worlds tallest living animal with one species and 9 sub-species.

Wild Giraffe are found only in Africa and are considered threatened due to habitat loss and use as bush meat. 

They usually inhabit savannahs and grasslands but the Angolan Giraffe is known to live in desert environments.

They are herbivores and are able to co-exist with domestic livestock as they don't compete for the same food, Giraffes being able to reach leaves high in the canopies of trees where cattle and other livestock can't reach. 

The Giraffe fossil record dates back to around 8 million years although the current Giraffe species is thought to be only around a million years old. They are related to the much smaller Okapi which is also called the Forest Giraffe or Zebra Giraffe. 

A fully grown male Giraffe can reach a height of 5.7m or 19 ft and weigh up to 1200kg or 2600lb's. They have a lifespan of around 25 years in the wild.

For more interesting facts on Giraffes please see the links below:

animaldiversity.org/accounts/Giraffa_camelopardalis/

www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/giraffe

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qx6vw93GBE

KIDS CORNER

animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/giraffe/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qw9FZ8ZlDk


​By Brendon Crook