Marine Mammal Conservancy » Kids Corner

Inky the Whale Coloring Book

Alex — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:40:26 +0000

This is the story of Inky, a female pygmy sperm whale who was found stranded on a New Jersey coast on Thanksgiving Day in 1993. She was rescued with the help of volunteers from the Marine Mammal Stranding Network and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter. Scientists at the National Aquarium in Baltimore discovered her stomach was full of plastic debris, which was preventing her from getting the nutrition she needed. The story of Inky is important, because it shows how our trash impacts the environment, sometimes far away from where we might think. Although this story has a happy ending, many mammals, sea turtles, fish and birds die every year from eating or becoming entangled in marine debris. The purpose of this activity book is to teach children about the problem of trash and marine debris through the true story of Inky. To strengthen the message of Inky’s story, it’s important to teach children about conservation methods and demonstrate to them how to reuse and recycle products and how to reduce the amount of trash that is produced at home and in the community. Another good way of helping is to participate in a beach or shoreline cleanup as a family, group or class.

Download the full pdf of Inky the Whale Coloring Book

Source: United States Coast Guard

Fun Facts About Dolphins and Whales

Bob — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:30:10 +0000

1. The real name for a killer whale is an orca, and orcas are really dolphins, not whales! They are the largest member of the dolphin family.

2. Atlantic bottlenose dolphins have approximately 80 to 100 cone-shaped teeth! They are born with one set of teeth they have for their whole lives. If one falls out, it is never replaced.

3. Dolphins and whales investigate their surroundings by using sound. They use a form of sonar called echolocation, which makes “pictures” of sounds in their brains!

4. Dolphins, whales, and porpoises do not chew their food. They swallow it whole!

5. A female dolphin, whale or porpoise is called a “cow”. A male dolphin, whale or porpoise is called
a “bull”. A baby is called a “calf”.

6. A group of dolphins is called a pod. Pods can be as small as two dolphins and as large as hundreds of dolphins.

7. Dolphins and whales have a fin on their back called a dorsal fin.

8. The world’s largest whale is the blue whale, which can grow to 100 feet longand weigh up to 300,000 pounds!
Their tongues can weigh as much as an elephant! Blue whales are the largest mammals on Earth.

9. Dolphins, porpoises, and whales are called cetaceans. A cetacean is a creature belonging to a group of water
living mammals that have no hind limbs and a blowhole for breathing. They are not fish!

10. Cetaceans get most of the water they need from the food they eat! Most cetaceans eat fish, squid, crabs, octopus,
and shrimp.

11. A long, long time ago, dolphins used to be land animals!

12. All of the fun squeaks and whistles you hear a dolphin make actually come out of their blowholes! They do not make sounds with their mouths.

13. Manatees are also marine mammals. They are vegetarians and only eat marine plants, such as seagrasses, algae, and mangrove leaves.

14.Manatees are distant relatives of elephants.

15. If you see a marine mammal in trouble, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (1-888-404-FWCC) or the local police department.

16. Never feed wild dolphins, manatees, or other marine mammals. The food you feed them could be harmful to them. It is also against the law.

17. It is also against the law to give water to manatees out of a hose.

18. Marine Mammal Conservancy is an all volunteer organization that rescues marine mammals in trouble.

You can download a printable version of our Fun Facts about Dolphins and Whales here!

Protecting Marine Mammals and their Habitats through Research, Rescue,

Please remember to never feed wild dolphins, manatees, or other marine mammals. The food you feed them could be harmful to them. It is also against the law.

Rehabilitation, Release and Education

MMC is an All Volunteer, Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization that Relies on Donations to Fund its Rescue and Rehabilitation Activities. Visit us at www.marinemammalconservancy.org to learn how you can help.

Kids Like Dolphins Tookids

vidyacoed — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:25:51 +0000

Recycling Project for Kids – - Collecting Beverage Can Pop Tops

Kathy — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:14:27 +0000

Recycling projects make great classroom projects for school children. They teach children ways they can protect the environment by recycling many of the items we use in our daily lives and they learn how a group may make a difference by working together on a charitable cause. Even better, the project can be fun. Collecting Pop Tops for Dolphins is a great project for kids.

Each child can bring in an empty container from home. Empty coffee cans, water containers, tennis ball containers, boxes, bins, and almost any other type of containers are great for this project. The ”Pop Tops for Dolphins” labels can be printed directly from our website. Click here for a pdf of our collection can label. The label can be pasted onto the containers, a hole made in the top big enough to “deposit” the pop tops, and they are ready to go! The containers can be used at home, in school, or given to a relative or family friend to bring to their office or work.

This is also a great project for schools to work together on as a school project.

If you would like to participate in MMC’s Pop Tops for Dolphins Program, you can click here and print our label for your Pop Tops for Dolphins Collection Container. When the containers are full, the pop tops can be transferred to a bag until you have collected enough for a pick up or delivery. You can contact MMC by e-mailing us at poptops@marinemammalconservancy.org, or by calling us at (305)451-4774, to arrange for the delivery or pick-up of your poptops. This recycling program also makes a great “green” project for schools, businesses, and other organizations to promote awareness of our environment and the importance of preserving it.

Recycling Project for Kids – - Making Recycling Boxes to Collect Ink and Toner Cartridges

Kathy — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:30:38 +0000

Each child can bring in an empty box or other container from home – - or ask for one from a local grocery store or other business. The Recycling Labels can be printed directly from our website (click here for a pdf of our label), then the children can paste the label onto their own boxes and decorate it any way they would like. The children can then drop the boxes off at a business or ask a parent or relative to take the box to their place of business. The boxes can even be used in their own school’s administrative offices!

If you would like to participate in MMC’s Recycling Program, you can click here and print our label for your Recycling of Ink Cartridges Collection Container label. You can contact MMC by e-mailing us at recycle@marinemammalconservancy.org or by calling us at (305)451-4774, to arrange for the delivery or pick-up of your cartridges. This recycling program also makes a great “green” project for schools, businesses, and other organizations to promote awareness of our environment and the importance of preserving it.