THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2016

Color me! DID YOU KNOW?

Elephants are unique animals that live in parts of Africa and Asia.

• There are two types of elephants, the Great Blue Hole Asian elephant and the African ele- phant (although sometimes the he Great Blue Hole is a giant submarine sinkhole a consistent orientation, indicating that there had also African Elephant is split into two off the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of been some past geological shift and tilting of the species, the African Forest Elephant TLighthouse Reef, a small atoll 70 km from the underlying plateau, followed by a long period in the and the African Bush Elephant). mainland and Belize City. The hole is circular in shape, current plane. • Elephants are the largest land-living over 300 m across and 124 m deep. It was formed dur- Initial measured depth of Great Blue Hole was 125 m mammal in the world. ing several episodes of quaternary glaciations when which is the most often cited depth up to this day. An • Both female and male African elephants sea levels were much lower. expedition by the Cambrian Foundation in 1997 meas- have tusks but only the male Asian Analysis of stalactites found in the Great Blue Hole ured the hole’s depth as 124 m at its deepest point. This elephants have tusks. They use their shows that formation took place 153,000 years ago. As difference in measurement can be explained by ongo- tusks for digging and finding food. the ocean began to rise again, the cave was flooded. ing sedimentation or by imprecision in measurements. • Female elephants are called cows. They The Great Blue Hole is a part of the larger Belize Barrier The expedition’s goal was to collect core samples start to have calves when they are Reef Reserve System, a World Heritage Site of the from the Blue Hole’s floor and document the cave sys- about 12 years old and they are preg- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural tem. To accomplish these tasks, all of the divers had to nant for 22 months. Organization (UNESCO). be certified in cave diving and mixed gases. The name • An elephant can use its tusks to dig for “The Great Blue Hole” was coined by British diver and ground water. An adult elephant author Ned Middleton in the book “Ten Years needs to drink around 210 liters of Underwater”. water a day. ACTIVITY • Elephants have large, thin ears. Their Tourism ears are made up of a complex net- This is a popular spot among recreational scuba work of blood vessels which help reg- divers who are lured by the opportunity to dive in ulate their temperature. Blood is circu- sometimes crystal-clear water and meet several species lated through their ears to cool them of fish, including Midnight Parrotfish, Caribbean reef Sock Toy down in hot climates. shark, and other juvenile fish species. Other species of • Elephants have no natural predators. sharks, such as the bull shark and hammerheads, have However, lions will sometimes prey on been reported there, but are not regularly sighted. young or weak elephants in the wild. Usually, day trips to the Great Blue Hole are full-day Materials: The main risk to elephants is from trips from the coastal tourist communities in Belize. humans through poaching and On-shore caves of similar formation, as large col- Sock (an ankle length works 2 gloves (a pair or mismatched) great) Felt-tip marker changes to their habitat. Exploration and name lapsed sinkholes, are well known in Belize and in the • The elephant’s trunk is able to sense the This site was made famous by Jacques Cousteau, Yucat?n Peninsula, where they are known as cenotes. Scissors Needle size, shape and temperature of an who declared it one of the top ten scuba diving sites in Unlike the mainland cenotes which often link to under- Polyester fiberfill stuffing Thread object. An elephant uses its trunk to the world. In 1971 he brought his ship, the Calypso, to water cave systems, there is little evidence of horizontal Straight pins 3 buttons lift food and suck up water then pour the hole to chart its depths. Investigations by this expe- development in the Blue Hole. In 2012 Discovery String or embroidery thread 1’ thin ribbon (1/4” or thinner) dition confirmed the hole’s origin as typical karsts lime- Channel ranked the Great Blue Hole as number one on it into its mouth. stone formations, formed before rises in sea level in at its list of “The 10 Most Amazing Places on Earth”. Directions: • An elephant’s trunk can grow to be least four stages, leaving ledges at depths of 21 m, 49 Even though the Great Blue Hole is considered a 1. If sock isn’t an ankle length, cut off leg just above heel; about 2 meters long and can weigh m, and 91 m. ‘bucket-list dive’, one should be aware that it is not for discard. Fill sock with stuffing and close opening with pins up to 140 kg. Some scientists believe Stalactites were retrieved from submerged caves, divers of all skill levels - a prerequisite is logging more (this it top of head). To form neck, tie string around stuffed that an elephant’s trunk is made up of confirming their previous formation above sea level. than 24 dives. It is also not a ‘colorful dive’, instead, sock, about 1/3 down from heel end (heel is back of head). 100,000 muscles, but no bones. Some of these stalactites were also off-vertical by 5? in divers witness a dark cave with impressive stalactites. 2. Cut two fingers off each glove, cutting into stuffing. Mark • Female elephants spend their entire where you want arms attached to body. Cut a slit for each lives living in large groups called arm, slightly smaller than width of stuffed glove finger. herds. Male elephant leave their herds SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Repeat for legs. To attach limbs, insert tab of glove finger at about 13 years old and live fairly into hole and sew, working around edges of limb. solitary lives from this point. 3. For ears, cut two more fingers off a glove. Trim each to 1” • Elephants can swim - they use their long. (Do not stuff.) Unpin top of ear. Fold material under so trunk to breathe like a snorkel in deep raw edges are inside. Insert an ear at each end of opening; water. pin in place. Pin together top of head. Sew closed. • Elephants are herbivores and can spend 4. Position buttons for eyes and nose. Sew buttons to head. up to 16 hours days collecting leaves, Tie ribbon around neck, then trim. twigs, bamboo and roots.

SUDOKU

MACARONI AND CHEESE

Ingredients: 6 cups water 1 package (7.25 ounces) macaroni and cheese dinner 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream 2 tablespoons skim milk powder 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions:

KIDS RECIPE Boil the water in a medium pan. Stir in the macaroni. Boil for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain the macaroni and return it to the pan. Add butter, whipping cream, skim milk pow- der, cheese, and cheese sauce mix (from the macaroni and cheese dinner package). Reduce heat to low and mix well until the cheese has melted.