Case of the Graveyard Ghost Read online

  Be a smart shopper and know what you’re getting into. Check out the following Web sites for more information:

  • www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww7e.htm

  • www.birdsnways.com/articles/efjul3.htm

  • http://animal.discovery.com/guides/reptiles/reptiles.html

  2. If you’re feeling under the weather and need some medicine, be aware that many medicines from Asia contain such things as tiger bones and rhinoceros horn. Know the ingredients! Be a smart shopper and don’t buy these products!

  3. If you’re traveling as a tourist, it’s a good idea to stay away from any product—ivory, tortoiseshell, fur, feathers, skins, etc.—made from animals. By buying these items, you are often unknowingly supporting illegal hunting (also called poaching).

  4. When traveling, don’t allow your photo to be taken next to a baby animal such as a baby chimpanzee or a tiger cub. What tourists don’t realize is that often the animal mother was killed just to kidnap the baby. Charging money for photographs is a way for these kidnappers (called poachers) to make a living. While this example doesn’t necessarily cross international borders, tourism makes it possible. Be a top-notch tourist and don’t say cheese!

  Did you know?

  Recently a smuggler like Jake the Snake was arrested while attempting to leave his country with illegal wildlife. What was the wildlife? you ask. Lizards. A dozen of them. And where did he hide the lizards? you ask. In his underwear! Yikes!

  How Can You Help?

  Many animal populations are endangered because of habitat destruction. You can help reclaim vital habitats by clicking onto a few Web sites each day. It’s free, simple, and fun.

  www.ecologyfund.com—The Ecology Fund helps parrots by purchasing parrot habitats in Mexico.

  www.redjellyfish.com—Red Jellyfish purchases sections of the rainforest and also feeds orphaned chimps.

  http://rainforest.care2.com—In addition to purchasing rainforest, Care2 purchases bamboo forests for pandas, and habitats for big cats such as tigers, jaguars, and snow leopards.

  www.thehungersite.com—Not only does the hunger site provide food for the hungry, but it helps protect habitats such as rainforests.