Whales

(MS.Encarta) - What is the biggest animal on Earth? Hint: It’s not an animal that lives on land. It’s the blue whale. Blue whales can grow to be 80 feet (24 meters) long and weigh 150 metric tons. The heart of a blue whale is as large as a small car!

WHALES ARE NOT FISH

The body of a blue whale looks a lot like the body of a fish. All whales look like fish, but whales are not fish. Whales are mammals that live in water.

There are many differences between fish and whales. Whales are much bigger than fish. Fish stay underwater all the time and breathe through gills that take oxygen out of water.

Whales breathe through lungs just as you do, so they must come up for air. Fish are cold-blooded, which means their body is the same temperature as the water around them. Whales are warm-blooded (like humans), and so their bodies always stay warm. Fish lay eggs. Whales, like almost all mammals, give birth to live young and feed their babies on mother’s milk.

Fish and whales both have tail fins. The tail fins of a fish are vertical (up and down). A fish swims by moving its tail from side to side. The tail fins, or flukes, of a whale are horizontal (side to side). A whale swims by waving its tail up and down. Whales also have two front limbs called flippers that they use to steer.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF WHALES

There are more than 75 species (major kinds) of whales. Zoologists (scientists who study animals) divide whales into two groups by the way they eat. One group, the toothed whales, have sharp, pointy teeth for catching fish, squid, and other prey. Sperm whales, beaked whales, narwhals, belugas, dolphins, and porpoises are toothed whales.

The other group, the baleen whales, do not have teeth. Instead, they have big plates with brushes on the edge called baleen, or whalebone. Baleen whales take in a big mouthful of water. The baleen then traps small fish and plankton (tiny plants and animals that float in the ocean). Rorquals, gray whales, blue whales, and right whales are some of the baleen whales.

BLUBBER AND BLOWHOLES

A whale has smooth skin that can be black, white, or other colors. Under their skin, whales have a thick layer of fat, called blubber. Blubber stores energy and helps keep the whale warm in cold water.

Whales don’t have noses. They breathe in and out through blowholes on the top of their heads. Toothed whales have one blowhole. Baleen whales have two blowholes. Whales can hold their breath underwater for a long time. Baleen whales can stay underwater about an hour. The sperm whale can stay underwater for even longer—about 80 minutes.

When a whale comes to the surface, it blows air out through its blowhole. The warm air looks like a mist. The mist is called the spout.

SEEING AND HEARING UNDERWATER

Whales have excellent eyesight. Oily tears help keep their eyes safe and clear underwater.

Whales have good hearing. Toothed whales use sound to hunt for food in the deep, dark ocean. They send out a sound that bounces back when it hits a fish or other animal. The echo tells the whale where the animal is.

Baleen whales do not have a good sense of smell. Toothed whales can’t smell at all.

COMING OUT OF THE WATER

Whales never climb up on land. But some whales can jump right out of the water. They land on their backs with a loud smack. Scientists call this behavior breaching. Scientists don’t know why whales breach. Are they trying to attract a mate? Are they “talking” to other whales far away? Or do they just want to get a good look at what is around them?

MIGRATING WHALES

Some whales migrate (move from place to place). These whales swim great distances every year. Baleen whales travel to cool waters near the Arctic or Antarctica every summer. They feed on krill, small animals that look like shrimp. In the winter, baleen whales head for warmer waters near the equator to breed.

Other whales do not migrate. Narwhals, for instance, live year-round in the cool waters of the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans.

HAVING BABY WHALES

After male and female whales mate, it takes from 10 to 16 months for a baby whale to form. The length of time depends on the whale species. A whale gives birth to only one baby at a time. The baby whale nurses on the mother’s milk for as long as a year.

Some whales can mate and have babies at 7 years of age. Other whales take longer to mature, and first mate as late as age 14.

LIFESPAN OF A WHALE

Small whales live about 20 years. Large whales can live to be 60 years old.

ANIMALS THAT HUNT WHALES

Some large sharks, such as the great white, can eat whales. But people are the main whale hunters. People began to hunt large numbers of whales in the 1700s. They hunted the sperm whale for a waxy liquid used to make candles and for whale oil to burn in lamps. People hunted baleen whales for whalebone to make combs and other products.

People no longer hunt whales for lamp oil or whalebone. However, they still hunt whales for oils and other materials used to make soap and cosmetics. Many whales, including right, bowhead, gray, and blue whales, have become endangered. Some countries in the mid-1900s decided to limit or forbid whale hunting. A few nations kept on hunting whales. Conservation groups now ask that all whale hunting be stopped. They fear that some kinds of whales could disappear forever.
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Zebras

(MS.Encarta) - If you saw a horse with black-and-white stripes, you might think you were “seeing things.” But you would be seeing a zebra. Zebras are a kind of horse. They walk, trot, canter, and gallop just as horses do. Zebras live only in Africa.

There are three species (kinds) of zebras: Grévy’s zebra, the mountain zebra, and the plains zebra (also known as Burchell’s zebra). Each kind of zebra has its own pattern of stripes. And you can tell individual zebras apart. No two zebras have exactly the same stripes.

WHY DO ZEBRAS HAVE STRIPES?

Some scientists think zebra stripes act as protection. Zebras like to hang out together in groups. When zebras are feeding together, the stripes can confuse an attacking animal. The stripes make it hard for a lion or hyena to pick out one zebra in the crowd. The stripes also break up the zebra’s outline and make zebras hard to see at a distance.

Other scientists think zebras can tell each other apart by their stripes. The stripes might help zebras find family members and friends.

Each species of zebra has a different pattern of stripes. The Grévy’s zebra has narrow stripes set closely together. The mountain zebra has wider stripes. The plains zebra has the widest stripes of all. The plains zebra also has stripes that wrap around from its back to its belly. The other two kinds of zebras have white bellies. The plains zebra sometimes has faint gray stripes between the black stripes on its sides.

THE BODY OF A ZEBRA

Zebras are usually smaller than horses. The mountain zebra is the smallest zebra. These zebras are about 4 feet (about 1.2 meters) high at the shoulders. Plains zebras are slightly larger. Grévy’s zebra is the largest zebra. It stands about 5 feet (about 1.5 meters) high at the shoulder.

Zebras have manes that stick straight up from their necks. A zebra’s tail is shorter than a horse’s tail.

Zebras can hear very well. They turn their ears and big eyes toward the source of any sound. They are always on the lookout for danger. How zebras hold their ears helps to show what mood they are in. A zebra that flicks its ears back and forth is upset.

Zebras do not have a very good sense of smell. However, they can smell smoke. Smoke might mean the grassland where they live is on fire.

WHAT DO ZEBRAS EAT?

Like other members of the horse family, zebras are grazing animals. They feed on coarse grass. Zebras have chisel-shaped teeth at the front of the mouth to bite off the grass and large molars (back teeth) for grinding up food.

Zebras spend over half their time eating. In a single day, a herd of zebras may wander more than 12 miles (20 kilometers) in search of food. While some zebras have their heads down munching on grass, others are on the lookout for danger. Some zebras also stand lookout while other zebras lie down and sleep.

FAMILY LIFE OF ZEBRAS

Zebras form small family units. A zebra female, or mare, is pregnant for about 12 months. She usually gives birth to one foal at a time. The newborn foal feeds on its mother’s milk for up to a year.

The family units of the plains and mountain zebra are very stable. An adult male, or stallion, heads the family. A family can have up to six adult females or mares. The mares often remain in the group for life. The stallion helps protect all the mares and foals in the family unit. Sometimes a younger male may drive out the stallion.

When the animals are on the move, the oldest mare is first in line, followed by her foals. The other mares and foals line up behind by age. The stallion brings up the rear.

A family unit of Grévy’s zebras is usually made up of a nursing mare and one or two of her foals. Stallions help look after their own foals. Adults do get together in groups, but each mare comes and goes as she pleases.

All zebras like physical contact. They groom each other by nibbling on each other’s fur. They flick their tails to keep flies away from each other’s faces.

THREATS TO ZEBRAS

The main natural enemies of zebras are lions, hyenas, and other wild animals. However, people are a greater threat to zebras. People hunt zebras. They hunted a kind of zebra called the quagga until the animal died out.

Today, Grévy’s zebra and the mountain zebra are endangered. People still hunt them for meat and hides. People turn the lands where zebras live into farms and ranches. This leaves fewer places for zebras to live.
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Buddha

(MS.Encarta) - Siddhartha Gautama, the man who became known as Buddha, could have led a comfortable, carefree life. But he devoted himself to a search for truth and understanding so that he could help end the suffering of other people.

Late in life, Gautama was given the name Buddha, which means “enlightened one.” Buddha was considered enlightened because he had gained understanding of spiritual matters. His teachings form the basis of Buddhism, one of the world's major religions.

BORN TO A FAMILY OF WARRIORS

Buddha was born around 563 bc in Nepal. His family were nobles and warriors. They wanted him to be a warrior, too. But from childhood, Buddha was quiet and thoughtful. He did not like the privileged life at his father’s palace. He found it dull. So he began to wander around the countryside, thinking deeply about the right way to live.

BUDDHA SEES SUFFERING

One day, around 533 bc, Buddha came across three men. The first was old, the second was sick, and the third was dead. Looking at them, Buddha saw that the world was full of suffering. Why was this, he wondered. Could it ever end?

Then Buddha met a fourth man: a Hindu monk who lived by begging. The monk was calm and serene, so Buddha decided to try living like him. Buddha traveled through India, studying with Hindu teachers. But their religious ideas did not satisfy him.

THE GREAT ENLIGHTENMENT

Buddha also spent time alone, thinking and meditating. In 528 bc, he was sitting under a tree when he suddenly felt he understood suffering. It was caused by people themselves! If they lived better lives, it would end. Buddha said that everyone should try to be humble, generous, and merciful. People should give up violence and practice self-control.

Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching and preaching. Many people followed him. Some became monks and nuns. Others used his ideas to guide their everyday lives. A new religion called Buddhism grew and spread to many parts of the world.

Buddha died in Nepal at about the age of 80. Today, he is still honored by millions of people in many lands.
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Jesus Christ

(MS.Encarta) - The teachings of Jesus inspired one of the world’s major religions — Christianity. Jesus’ followers, known as Christians, gave him the title of Christ, which means “savior.” They believe Jesus Christ was the Son of God, who came to save humanity from sin.

The story of Jesus’ life and his teachings was written down in four books called the Gospels.

Gospel means “good news,” the good news that Jesus brought. The Gospels were written soon after the death of Jesus. They form part of the New Testament of the Bible.

SON OF MARY

Jesus was born between 8 bc and 4 bc, in Bethlehem in the Roman territory of Judea. His family was Jewish. The Gospels say that an angel told Mary, the mother of Jesus, that she would have God’s son. The Gospels also report that shepherds and wise men came to worship the baby Jesus, as Mary sheltered him in a stable.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Jesus lived quietly until he was 30 years old. Then, about ad 27, he left home to be a preacher. Large crowds gathered to hear his words. The Gospels say he performed many miracles.

Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God was coming. He warned everyone to get ready. He told them to be kind to their neighbors, care for the poor and for weak and hungry people, and live pure, holy lives. He said good behavior like this was more important for entering the Kingdom of God than obeying old, Jewish religious laws.

Jesus had many devoted followers. They hailed him as the Messiah, or Christ, who was predicted by Jewish prophets. These prophets had said that a Messiah chosen by God would bring peace and justice to the world.

DEATH AND RESURRECTION

The teachings of Jesus alarmed Jewish leaders. They feared that Jesus would lead people to ignore Jewish laws. They were also afraid that his teachings would land them in trouble with the Roman rulers. Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death for the religious crime of claiming to be the Son of God and King of the Jews.

Jesus was crucified (killed on a cross) around ad 29. But three days later, his followers said they had seen him. Soon afterward, they reported that Jesus had appeared again and had told them to spread his teachings around the world. Jesus’ rising from the dead is known as the Resurrection. The Resurrection gives Christians hope in life after death. According to the Bible, Jesus rose to heaven 40 days after the Resurrection.
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Muhammad

(MS.Encarta) - The prophet Muhammad was a man with a mission—to tell people about God. His teachings founded a new religion, Islam. The followers of Muhammad and Islam are called Muslims. Today, Islam is one of the world's largest religions, with almost 1 billion followers.

THE TRUSTED ONE

Muhammad was born about ad 570 in Mecca, a trading center in Arabia (now Saudi Arabia). Because he was thoughtful and serious by nature, he was called al-Amin. This means “the trusted one” in the Arabic language. Muhammad worked as a merchant, traveling long distances to trade.

THE PROPHET

On his travels, Muhammad met people from many faiths and discussed religious ideas with them. He also took time away from busy, noisy Mecca, to pray and meditate (think deeply) in a cave. While he was there, he experienced religious visions, or revelations. He came to believe he had been chosen as a prophet to preach God’s message to the world.

ONE GOD

Muhammad spoke to the people of Mecca. He told them to destroy their old idols and worship Allah, the one true God. He said God was all-powerful, but loving and merciful. He said that God had sent earlier prophets, such as Moses and Jesus, but that now there wouldn’t be any more.

Muhammad’s preaching won converts but also made enemies. In ad 622 he fled from Mecca to a distant city, Medina, and set up a Muslim community there. After years of fighting, the Muslims from Medina conquered Mecca. Its citizens became Muslims. Quickly, Islam spread through Arabia and beyond.

THE MUSLIM WAY OF LIFE

Muhammad taught Muslims to pray five times a day, give to charity, fast during the month of Ramadan, and go on pilgrimages to Mecca. He told them that all Muslims were equal, whatever their race, class, or color. He said they should live at peace with Jews and Christians because they worshiped the same God.

Muhammad died in ad 632. To guide believers, his revelations were written down in the Qur’an. Muslims believe it is the word of God. Muhammad’s own words were treasured as Hadith (“sayings”), and his way of life was honored as Sunna (“good example”).
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