March 2021 Factfile - some news from the past month, animals that YOU voted for and more!

Hi Everyone!

We hope you are all okay and will enjoy this month's wrap up post. We have managed to post a little more this month but we are off school soon so we may be able to post more!

News!

Recent European droughts and heatwaves are said to be worst in 2000 years

The British newspaper, 'The Guardian' reports that the series of droughts and heatwaves since 2014 have been the worst in 2000 years. These heatwaves have disastrous consequences such as early deaths, crop failure and forest fires.

For more information, click here.

This is definitely the final bit of proof that climate change exists and that it needs to be stopped!

Rise in deforestation in 2020

A horrifying 42 000 squared km of forest was chopped down in 2020, making it the third worst year since 2002. The most affected areas were humid tropical forests such as the Amazon, the Congo and other forests in South America and South-East Asia. These forests are vital for slowing and stopping global warming. Also they are known for their irreplaceable ecosystems.

Animals of the month!

Animal of the month - land: Komodo dragon

Despite its name, the Komodo dragon is not a dragon. It is actually a lizard. Their name comes mostly from their size. Also, the yellow colour of their forked tongue reminds some people of a mythical fire-breathing dragon!

Komodo dragons, also known as Komodo monitors, live on the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores and Gili Motang. They weigh about 70 kilograms and can, in rare cases, grow up to three meters long. Because of this, Komodo dragons dominate the habitats where they live.

The mating season is between May and August. In September, the females lay the eggs. They hatch in the following April, which is when insects are most plentiful.

Komodo dragons were discovered by scientists in 1910. Their territories have grown smaller due to human activities. They are listed Vulnerable by the IUCN.

Animal of the month - water: Walrus

The Walrus is a large marine mammal. They live around the North and South poles.

Walrus are considered vital for the ecosystems of the Artic and Antarctic. They are listed Vulnerable by the IUCN.

Walrus normally live in the shallow waters above the continental shelf. They spend a lot of time on the sea ice, looking for food.

Walrus are very heavy. Adult males can weigh up to 2 000 kilograms. That's about the weight of a small car. They also have tusks and flippers.

The mating season stretches from January to March. The calves are born from April to June the following year. Males are known to be quite competitive during the mating season.

Animal of the month - air: Kestrel

Kestrels can be found in a variety of habitats, from on the moor and heath to on farms and in towns and cities. They are can be found almost anywhere in the UK and are a familiar sight beside main roads and motorways.

Kestrels eat small mammals and birds, as well as worms and insects. They measure 32-35cm in length and have a wingspan of 71-80cm! Kestrels are easily recognisable, with an orange body, blue head and yellow front.

We hope you liked this month's post.

P.S. Please use our online vote to decide, what animals you want to read about next month.

Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/15/climate-crisis-recent-european-droughts-worst-in-2000-years
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/31/destruction-of-worlds-forests-increased-sharply-in-2020-loss-tree-cover-tropical
https://www.britannica.com/animal/Komodo-dragon
https://www.britannica.com/animal/walrus
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/kestrel/

Images:
Title image: This image is owned by a blog editor.
Forest fire: This image is owned by Yuri Meesen (on pexels.com).
Komodo dragon: This image, owned by David Stanley (on flickr.com) is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Walrus: This image, owned by Daniel Enchev (on flickr.com), is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
Kestrel: This image, owned by Heather Smithers (on flickr.com), is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Comments

Tara02/04/2021, 01:18
A fantastic March Factfile, Green World! Keep up the great work you are all doing. Looking forward to next month's update :)
ReplyDelete
Replies
Adèle02/04/2021, 07:50
This month's posts have been very interesting to read, especially about how small Kestrels are! (32cm to 35cm!)
Well done!
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