| Some animals and plants in our world are very | | | | organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, the |
| common, like houseflies, cats or daisies. They are not in | | | | Rainforest Action Network or Friends of the Earth are |
| danger of dying out. Other species are very rare. | | | | helping to protect habitats. They raise money for their |
| Sometimes only a few of them are left. Such species | | | | projects and make governments and the public listen |
| may disappear forever. | | | | to them. New laws have also been made to protect |
| Ever since life on earth began, animals and plants have | | | | endangered plants and animals all over the world. |
| died out and new ones have appeared. Dinosaurs, for | | | | Endangered animals |
| example, roamed the planet during the earth's middle | | | | - African and Indian elephants are killed for their tusks |
| ages. 65 million years ago they disappeared forever. | | | | which are used for ivory earrings and other a art |
| Animals and plants need each other to survive. They | | | | objects |
| keep the world of nature in balance. If a certain plant | | | | - The giant panda lives in zoos and in some parts of |
| dies out some animals may become extinct too, | | | | China. There are only about 1,500 left in the world |
| because they depend on the plant for food. | | | | today. |
| Why species become extinct | | | | - Reptiles (lizards, crocodiles and alligators) are killed for |
| Long ago, most animals and plants became extinct | | | | their skins. People make leather handbags and shoes. |
| because of natural events, like earthquakes or volcano | | | | - Sea turtles are in danger because people often |
| eruptions. Climatic changes, like the beginning of the Ice | | | | collect their eggs. They often die in the sea because |
| Age, also led to the disappearance of certain species. | | | | of water pollution. |
| Today, plants and animals are in danger mostly | | | | - There are only about five thousand tigers left in the |
| because of human beings. | | | | world today. They live in southern Asia, mostly in |
| Some plants and animals can survive in many areas. | | | | national reserves. |
| When they move to other places they adapt to their | | | | - The bald eagle is the national symbol of the USA. |
| new environment very quickly. Others can only live in | | | | The bird almost died out at the beginning of the |
| certain areas. We call such a living place a habitat. If a | | | | century, but today the population is stable. |
| habitat is destroyed the species cannot find any more | | | | Endangered plants |
| food or a place to live, sleep or have babies. So it dies | | | | - For centuries the Bermuda cedar was cut down |
| out. | | | | because people needed material for houses and |
| Habitats can be destroyed in many ways. More and | | | | furniture. Conservationists have helped protect the |
| more people live in our world. They need more space | | | | trees that are left. |
| to live in. Rainforests, grasslands and other parts of | | | | - Some cactus types are in danger of becoming |
| nature are cleared and people start to settle there. | | | | extinct because they grow slowly and are hurt by |
| They take away the natural home of plants and | | | | animals. |
| animals. | | | | The World Wildlife Fund |
| Pollution can also kill off certain species. Acid rain from | | | | In 1960, biologist Sir Julian Huxley returned from a |
| factories goes down in rivers and lakes and can | | | | research trip to Africa. He was very much shocked |
| poison fish there. | | | | by what he had seen there: the hunting of rare animals |
| The most endangered areas are the tropical | | | | and the destruction of their habitat. Other scientists |
| rainforests. More than 50 % of all animals and plants | | | | shared his opinion that something had to be done |
| live there. Every day, thousands of acres of rainforest | | | | about this. The following year Huxley, some fellow |
| are destroyed and many species become extinct | | | | scientists and a few politicians founded the World |
| every day. | | | | Wildlife Fund. It became the largest conservation group |
| Ever since man appeared on earth he has killed | | | | in the world. |
| animals and gathered plants. They have been used for | | | | Today the WWF has 5 million supporters around the |
| food, medicine, clothes and to make homes. Cheetahs, | | | | world. It has national organisations in more than 50 |
| tigers and other wild cats have been killed for their | | | | countries and raises more than 100 million dollars a |
| skins. Whales have been hunted for centuries because | | | | year. |
| of their oil and blubber. | | | | The most important task of the WWF is to protect |
| Most animals today are protected by international law, | | | | endangered species around the world. Among them |
| but many, like the black rhinoceros and the African | | | | are the tiger, whale, elephant and many others. The |
| elephant are hunted illegally. Some species, like wolves, | | | | giant panda, one of the most endangered animals, has |
| have been killed by humans because they were seen | | | | become the WWF logo. |
| as a danger to farm animals. | | | | The WWF also tries to protect habitats like the tropical |
| Sometimes native animals become endangered when | | | | rainforest. In the past decade alone, it has been able to |
| a new species comes to live in a place. Foxes were | | | | conserve over 1 billion acres of forest in Asia, South |
| brought to Australia to kill off rabbits, which were seen | | | | America and Africa. |
| as a pest. But instead of killing rabbits, the foxes killed | | | | The organisation fights against the pollution of natural |
| kangaroos and other marsupials of Australia. | | | | resources and it is worried about the destruction of |
| Parasites belong to the greatest threats to plants and | | | | fish in the world's oceans. |
| animals. Tiny organisms, bacteria and fungi can destroy | | | | Over the past years the WWF has been working on |
| trees, kill birds and fish. | | | | projects in over one hundred countries. It also gives |
| Protection | | | | money to research work and spends a lot to teach |
| People have hurt plants and animals but they are also | | | | children and parents about our world in danger. |
| willing to help them survive. All over the world | | | | |