Issue 14 -- LAND, SEA, & AIR MAIL

October 2001

Want to get closer to a rhino? October’s LAND, SEA, & AIR MAIL is all about these fascinating land mammals.

This month’s newsletter offers activities at many grade levels. Kindergarten to third grade students create a Rhino ID wheel. Fourth through twelfth grade students can test their knowledge with a Rhino-It-All quiz game. Fourth through eighth graders campaign to save the endangered rhinos. And ninth through twelfth grade students experiment with their senses.

For more background information, see general information on the black rhino, endangered species information, the black rhino baby born last year, and general information on the white rhino.

Looking for back issues or activities on a certain topic? We have organized our activities from past LSA issues on one page for easy reference.

Featured Teacher

Does your school have a Web site? Use the entry form and enter your Web site in the "reasons" box. We'll provide the link to your Web site in our next newsletter.

Teaching about the environment is not always easy. Do you know a teacher who’s figured out a unique way to inspire students, communicate concepts, or encourage exploration? What about a school that has dedicated itself to a project? We want to hear about them. Use our easy entry form to nominate your favorite school or teacher.

Julie's Journal
Julie Scardina, SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Animal Ambassador, relates her first-hand experience with baby rhinos at Busch Gardens.

Conservation Partners: National Geographic Society
Check in with National Geographic Society-the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organization and one of our environment partners. Look up fun kids’ activities at their World magazine Web pages.

Have You Seen This?

Get a peek at the newest little rhino, a rare Sumatran rhino born in September at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Park.

SOS Rhino is an organization dedicated to research, people, programs, and organizations involved with the conservation and preservation of endangered rhino species. Check out their cool species information page.

Members of the International Rhino Foundation help with the conservation of rhinos around the world. See their current programs in Africa and Asia.

The San Antonio zoo Web site has more information and pictures of rhinos.

Go Environ-mental!

Busch Gardens continues its efforts to conserve rhinos in the wild as well as breeding them in our park. Unfortunately, several of the five species of rhinos are on the brink of extinction. However, through conservation efforts both locally and worldwide, two species: the black and the white’s populations have slowly begun to climb! So what can you do to help save a 4-ton animal?

1.	Rhinos are often poached for their horns. Some cultures believe them to have healing powers. Without their horns though rhinos are unable to defend themselves or their young. Be careful not to buy products from endangered or threatened animals.
2.	Support local and national conservation groups such as World Wildlife Fund or National Wildlife Foundation.
3.	Learn about endangered species in your own area and become informed about laws and organizations that work to protect these species.
4.	Another plight rhinos face is habitat destruction. As the world’s population grows, animal habitats shrink. Learn about areas of development in your own state and what efforts are underway to protect conservation land.
5.	Support your local zoo or even adopt a zoo animal!

COMING NEXT MONTH

See how SeaWorld and Busch Gardens rescues and rehabilitates hundreds of animals each year. From ospreys, to seals, to giant gray whales, our dedicate teams save animals that may not have otherwise not survived. Don’t miss the November issue of LAND, SEA & AIR MAIL.

Dozens of endangered green sea turtles
are rehabilitated at SeaWorld

SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Animal Information Database
http://www.seaworld.org/ / http://www.buschgardens.org/