Tuesday, 24 November, 2020
Save the platypus; India’s amazing elephant rescue; Sydney kid makes basketball’s big-time; and Tay Tay scoops the pool.
LINKS
Elephant well rescue: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-55034537
Squiz Kids Listener Survey (Adults Only!): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HKQ3H9G
Check out our parent podcast + email: The Squiz: www.thesquiz.com.au
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Got a birthday coming up and you want a shout-out? Send us an email at [email protected]
Squiz Kids is proudly supported by the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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The platypus is just about the cutest, most amazing Aussie animal there is. Right up there with the koala and kangaroo in terms of being an Aussie icon. But according to a new report released yesterday: it’s a species that is under threat of extinction unless we act quickly.
Researchers have found that in the past 30 years, about one fifth of their habitat has been lost.
That means, there are not as many places for them to build a home as there were three decades ago.
Drought, the loss of forests, pollution in our waterways and even feral dogs and cats – which are wild and not very nice versions of the cute ones you have at home – have been blamed for the platypus crisis.
But it’s not too late. According to the report, with careful management of platypus habitats and an education program – their numbers can return to healthy levels.
There was some good news on the koala front yesterday after $18 million was set aside by our government in Canberra to help restore their habitats and help their numbers recover after last summer’s devastating bushfires.
SPIN THE GLOBE
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Each day we give the world globe a spin and find a news story from wherever it stops – and today, we’ve landed in India – where an elephant has been rescued after falling into a village well.
A well is a deep hole that stores water. And this elephant fell into it after wandering over bushes that were covering it.
It took fourteen hours and a team of vets and villagers to calm the distressed elephant by feeding it banana leaves thrown into the well, before strapping him into a harness and using a crane to lift him to safety.
The elephant was lifted, upside down – up to the surface – where he was assessed by vets and proclaimed to be unhurt.
There’s a link in today’s episode notes to video the rescue effort. And it’s quite something.
POP CULTURE CORNER
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It was a big day yesterday for Taylor Swift, BTS and Justin Bieber as they cleaned up at the American Music Awards.
Tay Tay beat the Biebs, Post Malone and The Weeknd to win the award for Artist of The Year and also scored a trophy for video of the year for her song, Cardigan as well as the award for Favourite Female Artist. That’s quite the trophy haul.
The Biebs didn’t leave empty handed – walking away with the award for Favourite Male Artist – while everyone’s favourite Korean boy band, BTS, scored big too with the award for Best Pop Band.
It’s been a big week for the BTS boys. They released a new album last Friday. And despite it only being online for only four days, the video for the first single release, Life Goes On, has enjoyed almost 115 million views. How do you say ‘wow’ in Korean?
SQUIZ KIDS SALUTES
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And today we’re sending a big ol’ Squiz Kids salute to former Sydney kid, Josh Green who has realised a childhood basketball dream by being picked to play for the Dallas Mavericks in the United States.
Josh – who’s just turned 20 and once played basketball for his local team the Hills Hornets in Sydney’s north-west – was the 18th pick overall in the NBA Draft – and will be moving to Dallas in Texas in December to start training with the Mavericks.
It’s a really big deal for an Aussie to play in the NBA – widely considered the most prestigious – and highest-performing basketball leagues in the world.
Josh said afterwards that he felt ‘starstruck’ – and described how, as a kid, all he wanted to do was become a professional AFL player. See how life can take turns you don’t expect?
And get this, Josh is almost two metres tall, and has an arm span that measures more than two metres – meaning he is excellent at defence.
Go Josh! Squiz Kids salute you!
SQUIZ KIDS LISTENER SURVEY
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Attention parents, teachers and carers of Squiz Kids … the very quickest of reminders that today is your last chance to fill out the short Squiz Kids Listener Survey … it’s our way of getting to know you and your Squiz Kids better, finding out what they like, what they’d like more of – and hopefully making our daily offering that little bit better.
There’s a link in today’s episode notes to the survey. Oh – and kids – a quick reminder: this one’s just for adults. Thanks.
Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HKQ3H9G
THE S’QUIZ
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This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …
- Which iconic Aussie animal are scientists worried could soon be on the endangered list?
- What animal did rescuers in India pull from a well?
- Which female artist who likes to Shake It Off, enjoyed an especially good night at the American Music Awards?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s November 24 …. On this day, 378 years ago, in the year 1642, a Dutch explorer called Abel Tasman sailed upon the coast of a great big island that we now know as Tasmania.
It’s also only 31 sleeps ‘til Christmas … jingle all the way!
It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today … Jessica from Gosford East, Corey from Muswelbrook, Lilly from Craigburn, Jayden from Donvale, Fergus and Poppy from Ballarat, Holly from Woodrising, Archie from Coffs Harbour, Tommy from North Ringwood, Isla from Sydney, Mia from Oakhurst, Emma from Menai, Henry from Wahroonga, Tommy from Kahibah, Kane from Goodna and Charlie from NSW.
And a belated birthday shoutout to…. Liam from Berowra
Happy birthday to you all.
Today’s classroom shoutouts… Classes 2/3H and 5DM at Norman Park State School, Miss Hanns’ literacy group at St Joseph’s in Peak Hill, class 1M Mowbray Public School, classes 3MM and 4LM at Norris Road State School, and class 3D with Miss Ecob at Panania Public School.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Platypus
- Elephant
- Taylor Swift