Evolve Together

We all love a bit of trivia but wait until you find out the amazing facts on the animals that live longest or have lived a much extended life. The list is constantly being updated with new facts but as of now, here are some the animals that enjoy long life:

The Koi Fish has been known to live for more than 200 years. One koi fish with the name Hanako lived to about 225 years. This is one of the reasons the Japanese find this particular fish very lucky as a pet in the house or office. It is suppose to bring good fortune and long life.The Giant Tortoise can live up to more than 150 years. In captivity, the longest time a Giant Tortoise lived was 177 years. Tuataras is a reptile that looks like a lizard and it lives up 250 years. It only is able to have babies after 20 years, and they are found mainly in New Zealand.

Among mammals, the bowhead whale is known to have lived up to 120 years. One such whale was found in 2007 with a harpoon in its neck. When the whale was autopsied, doctors found that it was between 115 to 130 years old. It would have lived longer if not for that deadly harpoon.

In a list of animals we are all familiar with, after the Giant Tortoise, the box turtle is known to live up to 120 years, and the turkey buzzard as being able to live up to 118 years old. This is followed by the swan which can live up to 100 years and the parrot at 80 years. The elephant can live up to 69 years and the Great Horned owl and alligator both at 68 years.

Of course, these are animals that can die early because of loss of home and habitat as well as hunting by humans.

Children will grow up and if they taught while young about endangered animals and what to do to contribute to their survival, then we have a better chance of passing on a legacy of kindness. Our activities – our endangered animals is meant to encompass all ages in trying to save these species. Through our activities – our endangered animals have a chance of not becoming extinct. Here’s what adults can start teaching their kids about these animals.

First of all, education is the key to awareness. Once you tell the children and show videos or photos of these animals at risk of extinction, you get a chance to trigger emotions about saving the ecosystem. For example, amphibians are usually the first of all species to be affected when an ecosystem starts to tip to one side. Once fewer frogs are seen, then one knows there’s a problem. Right now, amphibians is the top animal group facing extinction. Over 1,800 species are listed as critically endangered because they have lost their homes and have been poisoned with pollution. A few of these are the Blue-Sided Tree Frog, the California Tiger Salamander, and the Corroboree Frogs.

Second, getting children involved in activities that promote reduction of trash or recycling should be a habit and not something you do in school only. By getting children to start respecting nature, they will enjoy seeing the Crowned Eagle, California condor, or the Galapagos Penguin living happily in their natural habitat.  As of now more than 1,200 bird species are either threatened or endangered.
Third, it is important to start enforcing strict rules on how to behave in parks, the natural habitats of animals, or even in the ocean, seas, or lakes. There are too many endangered invertebrates and mammals that could be lost forever just because we disposed of plastic improperly or allowed the cars to be kept running while idle. These are small acts that can make a difference on the lives of the Blue Whale, the African Wild Dog, the snow leopard, or the sea otter.

Reference: Illustrated Encyclopedia of endangered animals.