Hello, little explorers! Today, we’re diving into a fun story about some brave rubber ducks that set sail on an unexpected adventure across the ocean. Are you ready? Let’s QUACK our way through this exciting tale!

The Great Storm Surprise

Once upon a wave, on January 10, 1992, a huge cargo ship (that’s like a floating truck the size of a skyscraper!) was sailing from Hong Kong all the way to Tacoma in the USA. It was loaded with all kinds of things - bananas, bikes... and surprise; rubber ducks!

But then - SPLASH! - a big storm came crashing in. The wind tossed some of the ship’s giant metal containers into the sea.

And inside one of them? 28,800 rubber duckies and their squeaky sidekicks: blue turtles, red beavers, and green frogs!

Ducks on the Run

Instead of sinking, the toys popped out and went on the most epic ocean road trip ever! Months later, people on the beaches of Alaska started finding tiny ducks waddling ashore; sunny yellow, smiley, and a little salty!

Super Detective Scientists

Two clever scientists, named Curt and Jim, heard about the duck invasion and turned into ocean detectives! They asked beach goers to report any toy sightings. And - WOW - those ducks really got around! They were everywhere!

Following the Currents

Some ducks floated all the way around the Pacific Ocean. Others got stuck in icy waters in the Arctic. These fearless floaties help scientists understand how the ocean’s “water highways” (called currents) move things around the planet!

Mighty Ocean Mess

But here’s the not-so-fun part: cargo ships lose thousands of containers every year, adding more rubbish to our oceans. That’s a big problem for sea animals like turtles, whales, and birds.

Each year, one million birds and 100,000 marine animals get hurt from plastic pollution.

 

Here are some activities for you and your friends!

These activities are not only fun but help us learn about the ocean and how we can protect it. Enjoy!

Rubber Duck Race: Create your own rubber duck race (or use your favourite rubber toy) in the bathtub or a small pool. Use a straw to blow air and move your toy along the water. See whose toy reaches the finish line first!

Currents Puzzle: Draw a simple map of the world and use string to show the paths of ocean currents, like the rubber ducks travelled. Use different colours for different ocean paths! Or you can download a map from our Free Downloads page.

Story Time Adventure: Write or draw a short story about a brave rubber duck (or your favourite fish) and its journey across the ocean. Share it with friends and family!

Be a Beach Detective: You can be a hero for the ocean, too! If you visit the beach, keep an eye out for special toys or unusual treasures that may have travelled a long way across the waves. Together, we can learn and help protect our big blue ocean!

Until next time, keep exploring and keep caring for our planet!
Sophia the Seahorse