Toys with a Mission: Lil’ Nature Babies Teach about Endangered Animals

HEXBUG Lil’ Nature Babies represent endangered animals, they’re so much more than just cute toys! These animal figurines were designed to help teach kids about endangered animals and why it’s important to help preserve their populations.

Endangered Species (en•dan•gered spe•cies) Noun
A species of animal or plant that is seriously at risk of extinction because of a sudden rapid decrease in its population or a loss of its critical habitat. – Encyclopedia Britannica

Each of the HEXBUG Lil’ Nature Babies represents a very real endangered species. Truthfully, some of them are such popular and iconic animals (like the Panda Bear) that it’s easy to forget that they’re at serious risk of extinction. 

How does endangerment happen:

To put it simply, endangerment happens because of a combination of factors that include loss of food supply and habitat. Sadly, many endangered species cause of endangerment can be linked back to human beings because of a few things:

• Human industrialization leads to the destruction of animals’ natural habitats
• Destruction of habitats also leads some animals’ natural prey to leave the area or vegetation to die out.
• Global warming and climate change, which is partially linked to the depletion of the Ozone layer due to chemicals released by everyday human products.

How to help:

There’s things that you and your whole family can do to help these endangered animals! Here’s some tips:

1. Learn as much as you can about the species to understand what their risks are and how to help them. This is the main goal of the Lil’ Nature Babies, to help educate kids about the endangered species and encourage them to learn more about them and what their needs are.
2. Donate to your local zoo. Keep a jar in your home and put money in it. Once it’s full, donate it to your local zoo!
3. Donate to a wildlife preserve. Do a Google search for a wildlife preserve that contains the animal species you want to help, then donate to that preserve to help keep that species and their habitat intact! (HINT: This is where knowledge about that species comes in handy!)
4. Virtually adopt an animal through World Wildlife Fund. The WWF has several levels of giving to choose from and you can adopt an animal and help keep their species going!

HEXBUG Lil’ Nature Babies & their real counterparts:

Lin the Giant Panda

Lin the Giant Panda makes over 20 life-like sounds and comes with either a small play set, complete with bamboo hammock, or a large play set that represents the pandas’ mountainous real-life habitat, including a light up waterfall. Here are some facts about the Giant Panda, but you can find more here.  **Large play set doubles as a night light!** If you want to learn more about Lin, click here!

• Located in China, pandas live in bamboo forests in the mountains and eat anywhere from 26-84 pounds of bamboo per day.
• When pandas are born, they’re about the size of a stick of butter!
• Pandas typically weigh 220-300+ pounds full grown.

Sami the Snow Leopard

Sami the Snow Leopard makes over 20 sounds and, like all of the HEXBUG Lil’ Nature Babies, is touch activated and has one special sound. Additionally, Sami comes with a small play set designed to replicate the Snow Leopard’s Himalayan habitat. You can see some facts about the Snow Leopard below, or visit this link for more info. Read more about Sami’s adventure here!

• Snow Leopards live in cold, tall mountains and can be found in multiple countries including China, Nepal, India and Russia.
• Their build is quite a bit smaller and more compact then their South American counterparts so that they can easily scale steep slopes.
• They can leap six times their own body length! (Typically 2-5 feet.)

Zane the Black Rhino

Zane the African Black Rhino  comes with a small play set, complete with hidden jewels! Like all Lil’ Nature Babies, Zane makes over 20 sounds, activated by touch, and has one unique sound. The Black Rhino is the most endangered species of the HEXBUG Lil’ Nature Babies. Check out some facts about the Black Rhino below and visit this link for more info. If you want to read about Zane’s adventure, click here!

• The Black Rhino is the smaller of the two African species. (There are 4 species of rhino in the world.)
• Due to hunters and settlers, the Black Rhino population decreased by 98% between 1960 and 1995.
• These rhinos are down to 5,000-5,400 in population, making them critically endangered.

Sura the Polar Bear

Sura is a Polar Bear and comes with a large play set that resembles the natural Arctic habitat of all Polar Bears. This Polar Bear is touch activated with 20+ sounds and its habitat lights up to mimic the Northern Lights. Below are some facts about the Polar Bear, but you can get more info here.**This play set doubles as a night light!** Read all about Sura’s adventure by clicking here!

• Polar Bears live on the icy areas surrounding the Arctic Ocean.
• This species of bears have a thick layer of body fat and water-repellent fur to protect them from the cold climate they live in.
• Due to climate change and global warming, the Polar Bear population is declining because their icy habitat is melting.

Waya the Gray Wolf

Waya the Gray Wolf makes over 20 sounds and comes with a large play set featuring a log with hidden secrets. Waya’s full moon even lights up! Below you can read more about the Gray Wolf, or click here for more info. **This play set doubles as a night light!**  If you want to read about the adventures of Waya, click here!

• Gray Wolves are also called Timber Wolves and are found in the Northern area of North America.
• This size of the Gray Wolf ranges from 4-6 feet long and are the largest wild canine species.

HEXBUG Lil’ Nature Babies are available at HEXBUG.com, Target and Amazon!