Owairaka 20/20

Kashin, the elephant at Auckland zoo was put down by vets yesterday. She has been suffering from foot abscesses and chronic arthiritis. She was 40 years old and had been at the zoo for 36 years. She had become depressed and withdrawn. We have some questions we are wondering about.

1. Is it cruel to keep animals like elephants in a zoo?
2. Was it right to put Kashin down?
3. How long do elephants live for in the wild and in captivity.

What do you think?

Have you got any questions about elephants you want to ask?

Here is a video of Mr Waller’s adventures with elephants when he was in Malaysia. People got to ride on elephants and to swim with them.

I am taking a scrapbook about New Zealand, Auckland, Owairaka School, and the children of Room 20 with me to Malaysia. I want to show them what life is like here. I want to share stories about us. I want to present photos and pictures showing what our wonderful country is like.

Have you got any photos of places in New Zealand or Auckland that would be interesting to show? If you do, I would love to have a copy. You can send them to me at school or email them to me as an attachment.

Thank you.

Yes, Joanna, the scrap book will be about the whole school.

Silvana at the International Cultural festival at May Rd Park on Sunday 29 March

 Paddy has identified the flag Silvana is sitting in front of as the flag of Eritrea.

This was a wonderful day. The weather was perfect, the food was delicious, the atmosphere was inspiring. Auckland truly is a meltingpot of cultures and ethnicities. It was great seeing so many communities come together and express themselves with pride and dignity.