To mark Earth Day, the Disneynature documentary Earth opened in theatres in the spring season. Filmed over five years, it documents 42 animal species in their natural habitats. The following Earth Day facts offer a closer look at these species and the planet they share, with notes relevant to readers in Canada and the United States.
DID YOU KNOW?
– The earth is tilted at an angle of roughly 23.5 degrees to the sun, a tilt that creates seasons and shapes the length of days year-round, a fact recognized by NASA.
– Tropical rainforests cover less than 3% of Earth’s surface yet shelter more than half of all species, a remarkable concentration of life in compact belts of heat and humidity.
– Polar bears roam across sea ice in search of seals, often covering hundreds of miles in a season, and they can swim up to 12 miles in a single day when ice is far apart, feeding on the edge of Arctic oceans.
– Their thick fur and fat layers trap heat in the frigid Arctic, a necessary adaptation that helps them survive long hunts, but also means they must pace their movements to avoid overheating after exertion.
– The first year is harsh: cubs face hunger, competition, and the risk of separation from their mothers, so roughly half do not reach their first birthday, a stark reminder of Arctic vulnerabilities.
– A sizable portion of the global polar bear population lives in Canada, especially in the western Arctic and Nunavut regions, reflecting the vast, icy territories that shelter these bears.
– An adult elephant consumes more than 300 pounds of vegetation daily and drinks around 50 gallons of water, depending on habitat and season, a testament to their enormous appetite and impressive digestive system.
– It takes elephant calves months to master trunk use, learning through play and maternal guidance how to reach water, spray dust, and coax moisture into their mouths.
– Caribou undertake the longest annual land migration on Earth, journeys spanning around 2,000 miles as they follow seasonal tundra and predator cycles, a grand, shared route across North America.
– Grey wolves also travel vast distances, often covering greater ranges than any other North American land mammal, a testament to their endurance and social hunting strategies.
– Demoiselle cranes fly at altitudes of nearly 25,000 feet as they migrate from Mongolia toward warmer zones in India, crossing the Himalayas and other towering ranges on the longest routes of any crane.
– Lions stand out among big cats by living in prides, complex social units where lionesses often lead the hunt while males guard the territory and cubs.
– The cheetah remains the fastest land animal, accelerating from rest to about 40 miles per hour in a few strides and reaching top speeds near 70 miles per hour in seconds.
– Great white sharks are the largest predatory fish, equipped with roughly 3,000 teeth arranged in multiple rows that replace worn ones.
– To attract mates, the male six-plumed bird of paradise clears a clean dance floor on the forest floor and carefully trims nearby leaves to frame his elaborate display.