Born Survivors

Born Survivors — page 1 — Animals are engineered by nature to survive in their habitats Special adaptations or features help keep baby animals safe while they grow Some babies are protected inside eggs or their parents bodies Others have physical features that help them hide or escape from danger Some babies parents keep them safe from predators Other newborns survive by instinct Many baby animals live in groups because it is safer Some animals even completely change form as they grow DID YOU KNOW A baby orangutan stays with its mother until it is about eight years old She teaches her baby how to find food and stay safe 4 Built to Survive

Born Survivors — page 2 — FAST FACT Orangutans have one baby at a time That way they can devote a lot of time and attention to it 5

Born Survivors — page 3 — A hen lays an egg in a nest She sits on the nest to keep the egg warm The egg’s hard shell protects the baby growing inside In the egg the baby eats the yellow yolk It uses this food as energy to grow DID YOU KNOW Hens lay up to 10 eggs in a nest The eggs stay in the nest because of their oval shape If they roll out they might get lost or break 6 Chicks

Born Survivors — page 4 — FAST FACT An eggshell has many very tiny holes in it This lets air flow into the egg so the chick can breathe After three weeks the chick is ready to hatch It uses its beak to peck through the shell then pushes its way out Its damp feathers dry into fluffy yellow down in shape ACTIVITY Engineering in Practice Try this test to see why eggs are oval Get a hard-boiled egg and a ball that are about the same size Roll each one along the floor or down a very gentle slope What do you notice How does the shape of the egg affect how far it rolls 7

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