Grab your flashlights and hiking boots, explorers! Today, Aimee is taking us deep into the beautiful ferns and forests of New Zealand to meet a parrot that is completely unlike any other bird on Earth.

In this episode, we’re quietly tracking the mossy-green Kākāpō. You’ll learn:

• The Grounded Parrot: Discover why the Kākāpō is the only parrot in the entire world that cannot fly, and how they use their super-strong legs to hike and climb trees instead!
• Whiskers in the Dark: Learn why they are Nocturnal (sleeping all day and waking up at night) and how they use special, sensitive whiskers around their beaks to feel their way through the dark woods.
• The Booming Dance Party: Find out all about Lek Breeding—a super rare and funny way that male kakapos gather together to make loud "booming" sounds (that can be heard for miles!) and dance to impress the females.
• Master of Disguise: Hear how their beautiful green and brown feathers help them blend perfectly into the forest floor so they don't get spotted.
• Protecting a Treasure: Learn why these special birds are Critically Endangered and the amazing things scientists and conservationists are doing to help them survive and grow their families.

Get ready to trek through the dark woods and listen for the booming calls of this heavy, wonderful, and strange parrot!

Kākāpōs are Critically Endangered, but their habitat faces detrimental changes due to pollution.

If you are interested in helping Kākāpōs, consider supporting:

The NZ Kākāpō Recovery Program

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Grab your snorkels and surfboards, explorers! Today, Aimee is taking us out into the open ocean waves to meet a real-life dragon... but this one is smaller than a silver dollar and floats completely upside down!

In this episode, we’re diving into the bizarre and beautiful world of the Blue Dragon (also known as a sea slug!). You’ll learn:

• The Upside-Down Surfer: Discover how the Blue Dragon swallows a tiny bubble of air to keep itself floating perfectly upside down on the surface of the water.
• A Stolen Superpower: Learn their most incredible and sneaky trick—eating venomous jellyfish (like the Portuguese Man o' War) and stealing their stinging cells to use as their own weapons!
• Invisible in the Waves: We'll talk about their amazing camouflage. It's called Countershading, where their bright blue belly blends in with the ocean from above, and their silver back blends in with the sunlight from below!
• Fingertip Stingers: Find out about their Cerata—the beautiful, feathery, finger-like branches on their bodies where they store all that stolen jellyfish venom.
• Tiny but Mighty: Hear how this fierce little sea slug survives in the massive, rolling ocean, even though it only grows to be about one inch long!

Get ready to ride the waves and learn why this tiny, venom-stealing slug is one of the toughest creatures in the sea!

Blue Dragons are not currently endangered, but their habitat faces detrimental changes due to pollution.

If you are interested in helping Blue Dragons, consider supporting:

Oceana | https://oceana.org/resources/ways-to-give-donate-now/

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Put on your armor, explorers! Today, Aimee is taking us into the deep forests and sweeping savannas to meet an animal that looks like a cross between a tiny dinosaur and a pinecone.

In this episode, we’re following the wobbly tracks of the incredible Pangolin. You’ll learn:

• The Only Scaly Mammal: Discover how pangolins are the only mammals on Earth completely covered in tough armor.
• Nature's Suit of Armor: Learn about Keratin, the super-strong material that makes up their scales (it's the exact same stuff as your fingernails!).
• The Ultimate Hide-and-Seek Trick: Find out what Volvation is and how they use it to roll into a tight, bite-proof ball when lions or leopards are nearby.
• A Super-Stretchy Slurper: Hear how they manage to eat up to 70 million ants and termites a year using a sticky tongue that is actually longer than their entire body!
• A T-Rex Waddle: Discover why these quirky creatures use Bipedal movement—walking on just their two back legs—to keep their front digging claws perfectly sharp.

Get ready to slurp up some amazing facts about one of the most unique and endangered animals on the planet!

Some species of Pangolins are Critically Endangered.

If you are interested in helping Pangolins, consider supporting:

Pangolin Conservation and Research Fund | https://www.pangolincrf.org/

Thank you for listening!

Don't forget to rate and follow Animals with Aimee for notifications about our new episodes!

Join Aimee's Animal Lovers Club for activity sheets, birthday shout-outs, and more!