Animals in danger
Perhaps the most famous rare animal is panda. Twenty years ago it was nearly extinct. Now, its numbers are growing again. It even became a symbol for wildlife conservation. But many other species have been less lucky than the panda.
By the year 2030, 25% of all animals, birds, fish and insects may be extinct. Why is this happening? Well, there are some three main reasons. The first is pollution. Millions of animals die every year because man has polluted their natural home or “habitat”. A habitat contains everything a living thing needs: food, water, shelter, space, light.
Pollution and destruction change the balance of nature. Each species in a habitat-wood, jungle, marsh or forest- needs and helps the rest. If one animal, bird or insect disappears, all the rest suffer too, because some plants and animals provide food for other animals. Forests help to regulate water supplies. We all need the help of all living things to maintain chemical balance of the atmosphere.
After pollution or destruction, habitats take many years (sometimes hundreds or even thousands) to grow again. This is what’s happening in the rainforest of South America, Africa and Asia. There are some of the world’s oldest habitats.
Or they were. But the problem doesn’t stop there.
The second reason is the environment itself. It is becoming smaller. Every year man cuts down more trees, builds more roads and uses more land for farming. This leaves fewer jungles, fields and forests for wildlife. In fact scientists believe that thirty British animals, fish, birds may become extinct by the beginning of the 21st century.
Today, many more species are in danger not only because man destroys and pollutes their habitat, but because man hunts them. Man has always been a hunter. He still is. But many modern hunters don’t kill for food- they kill for profit. That’s why so many rare and protected animals are still dying. Hunters like these are called poachers. In 1981 there were 15,000 black rhinos in Africa. Today because of illegal hunting, that number is 4,500.
There is only one way to save animals and wild habitat-conservation. If it doesn’t happen, many wild animals will soon have just one habitat-the Zoo.
Marsh-болото, топь
Rhino-носорог
Conservation-сохранение, создание заповедников
Profit-доход, выгода
Shelter-убежище, приют
Poacher- браконьер
Maintain-поддерживать
