Blijdorp Oceanium

Baby elephants play

http://youtu.be/KuXAlVLB_9M

Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.


skin      rhinoceros      extinct      endangered      dinosaurs      logging


1. A species of animals become _____________ when all of the 
    species dies.
2. ____________ species are species of animals or plants that are 
    facing the threat of becoming extinct.
3. Illegal and excessive ___________ cause many species to 
    become extinct because their habitats are destroyed.
4. Tiger is hunted illegally by humans for its ___________.
5. ___________ and tapir are examples of endangered animals 
    species.
6. The dodo and ____________ are examples of extinct animals.

Ways to prevent animals and plants from becoming extinct

1. We should conserve endangered species of animals and plants to 
    prevent them from becoming extinct.
2. Some of the ways to conserve endangered species are as follows:
    a) creating protected area
       Certain foreste have been declared by our goverment as 
       protected areas and permanent forests reserves. For example, 
       Taman Negara, Pahang is a wildlife sanctuary and forest 
       reserve.Hunting and logging are prohibited in this area. 
    b) setting up a breeding or rehabilitation centres
       For examples:
       i) The Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah 
       rescues orang utan from deforested area.
       ii) The Turtle Sanctuary Centre in Terengganu is particularly for  
       protecting eggs of endangered turtles.
    c) practise selective logging
       Only large and mature trees are cut down for timber. So that, 
       forests are not totally destroyed and this enables animals to 
       continue living in the forests. 
    d) reforestation
       Forests which have been logged should be replanted.
    e) organising campaigns
       Againts illegal and excessive logging
    f) educating the public
       About the importance of protecting and conserving animals and 
       plants.
    g) avoid consuming or buying
       Products made from any parts of endangered animals.
    h) enforcing the law and regulations
       For example, the National Forestry Act to prevent illegal 
       logging activities and the Wildlife Protection Act to prevent 
       illegal hunting.
     

Endangered animals and plants

1. Today, many species of animals and plants are facing the threat of 
    extinction.
2. Their numbers are getting fewer so it is feared that they will be 
    completely extinct from the world in the near future. 
3. These species of animals and plants are called endangered 
    species.
4. Examples of endangered anamals species are as follows. 
                         
                                   Rhinoceros                                                   Hornbill
5. The Rafflesia, pitcher plants and Venus flytrap are examples of 
    endangered plant species.
                        
                                Rafflesia                                                   Pitcher plant
6. Animals and plants are facing the treat of extinction because of 
    human activities. Such as activities include:
    a) illegal and excessive logging
    b) illegal and excessive hunting
    c) excessive development


Illegal and excessive logging
1. Trees are cut to supply timber. Timber is widely used in 
    construction as well as to make furniture and paper.
2. Logging activities become a threat to many species of plants and 
    animals when they are carried out on a large scale(excessive).
3. Illegal logging activities are carried out by irresponsible people. 
    They carry out logging activities without licences or logging 
    outside licensed area.
4. These illegal and excessive logging activities not only destroy 
    many plant species, but also destroy the habitat of many animals.
5. Excessive logging also causes the animals to lose their food 
    source and it can lead to the extinction of the animals. For 
    example, giant pandas are facing the threat of extinction because 
    of the destruction of their habitats. The giant pandas only eat 
    parts of bamboo trees. Many of these trees have been cut down 
    for development and agricultural.


Illegal and excessive hunting
1. Most animals like tigers, elephants, blue whales and rhinoceroses 
    are facing the threat of extinction because they are being hunted 
    by humans.
2. These animals are hunted down for food, sport and to get their 
    valuable parts.
3. Excessive hunting can greatly reduce the number of these animals 
    and may lead to extinction.


Excessive development
1. As the world's population increases, there is more demand for 
    food supplies, shelter and other basic needs.
2. To fulfil these demands, there is an increase in human activities 
    such as agriculture and development.
3. Forests are cleared excessively for farming, to build houses, 
    factories, highway and other development projects.
4. Deforestation due to excessive development becomes a threat to 
    many species of animals and plants. For examples, many wild 
    animals lose their habitats. They have to find new habitat 
    elsewhere. Without a place to live, no animal can survive.

Extinction of animals

1. Some animals have become extinct. The Dodo and dinosaurs are 
    examples of extinct animals.

           
                                 
                             Dodo                                                                        Dinosaur
2. A species of animals is said to be extinct when it no longer exists 
    in this world.
3. Other animals that have become extinct are as follows. 
                             
                              Aquagga                                                        Tasmanian wolf
4. The animals are extinct because of some factors:
    a) The change in climate or weather
         For example, dinosaur are extinct because of the change in 
         climate on the Earth millions of years ago.
    b) The destruction of their habitat
         The main cause of the extinction of the dodo was the    
         destruction of the forest which cut off the dodo food supply.
    c) Excessive hunting
         The aquagga, Tasmanian wolf and hairy mammoth are 
         examples of animals that are extinct because of human 
         activities such as excessive hunting.

Competition among plants

1. Plants need water, carbon dioxide(from air) and sunlight to make 
    food.
2. Plants also need nutrient from healthy growth.
3. Plants get water and nutrient from the soil.
4. If there are too many plants growing in the same place, the place 
    will be overcroeded and the resources become limited.
5. The plants will compete to get enough sunlight, water, nutrient 
    and space.
    a) For example, when there are too many seedlings planted in a 
        pot, they will compete to get enough space, water, sunlight and 
        nutrient to grow. 
    b) This will result in unhealthy growth.
6. Plants in the rainforest have different heights because they 
    receive different amounts of sunlight, space, water and nutrient.
7. The plants face strong competition to get sunlight, space, water 
    and nutrient.

Competition for sunlight, water, nutrient and space has
resulted in trees of different heights         

8. In a competition, plants which are stronger will win. The plants 
    will grow better and healthier. Weaker plants will have stunted 
    growth, wilted and eventually die. 

Competition among animals

1. Animals compete with each other for:
    a) food
       Animals that live in the same habitat and eat the same type of 
       food have to compete for food. For example, carnivores such as 
       tigers, wolves and lions compete in hunting for animals such as 
       deer for food. 
    b) water
       Animals which live around a pond have to compete for limited 
       water resources during the dry season.
    c) shelter
       Shelter is very important for animals to protect themselves from 
       the rain, the sun and danger.
    d) territory/space
       Animals which live in the same habitat compete to get space, 
       food and mate. The stronger animals will conquer the space and 
       defend it from other animals. The living space that an aminals 
       defend is called territory. Some animals mark their territory in a 
       certain way to keep other members of the same species out of 
       their territory.
    e) breeding mate
       During the mating season, adult males of the same animals 
       species compete for female animals as breeding mate. 
2. In animals, competition can occur within the same species or 
    among different species. 
3. Competition within the same species

The pigeons are competing among themselves to get the limited food

                                            

4. Competition among animals of different species

                                                                   

5. Competition among animals ensures that only the stronger 
    animals have a better chance to survive.

6. The weaker animals will have to move somewhere else.

 

                                           
                        

Exercise 1

Underline the correct word for the statements below.


1. Wolves and buffaloes each live in (groups, solitary).
2. A giant panda lives alone to avoid (cooperation, competition) 
    with other animals for food.
3. (Wolves, Tigers) stay alone most of their time expect during 
    mating season.
4. Animals that live in groups (compete, cooperate) to hunt for food.
5. By living in groups, the animals can (defend, kill) themselves 
    from their enemies.

Animals that live in solitude

• Some animals prefer to live in solitude.
• Examples of solitary animals include tigers, leopards, giant pandas, eagles, polar bears, pangolins, woodpeckers, porcupines, spiders and foxes.
• These animals live alone most of their time except during the mating seasons.
• Examples of animals that live in solitude                                      
• The reasons animals live in solitude are:

       i) To avoid competition for food

          Some animals need to stay alone to avoid sharing the same 

          food resources. For example, a giant panda needs to eat a lot 

          of bamboo shoots at one time. Therefore, this animals needs 

          to live alone to avoid competition for limited food.

      ii) To avoid competition for space (territory) and mate

          Some animals need a larger area for finding a mate or hunting 

          for food. They lead a solitary life in order to avoid 
          competition for space and mate. These animals will guard 
          their territory from other animals.

Animals that live in groups

• Many animals live in groups. They live and hunt for food together.
• Some animals live in small groups. For example, elephants, zebras, horses, buffaloes, lions, wolves, deer, beavers, penguins, flamingoes and baboons.   

              

          A troop of baboons

 A herd of elephants   

• Some animals such as ants, bees and termites live in large groups or colonies.
• A colony of ants for example may consist of thousands to hundreds of thousands of ants. 

             

             A hive of bees

A nest of ants

• There is strong cooperation in an ant colony whereby each member has a specific job to carry out.

       i) There are ants responsible to defend the colony and attack 

          other colonies. These ants called soldiers.

      ii) There are ants responsible to look for food and feed members 

          of the colony. They are called workers.

      iii) There is an ant called the queen which spends her life laying 

          eggs.

• Animals live in groups for certain reasons:

           i)  For Protection
            Weak animals such as fish and birds which are prey to other 
            animals usually move in groups. By living in groups, they can 
            protect themselves ehen they are attacked by predators or 
            enemies.
                           
       ii) Looking for food
               Predators such as wolves hunt in groups. They cooperate to 
            hunt their prey.        
                                           
           iii) In caring for the young
                  A group usually consists of a few parents and many young. 
              The parents cooperate in caring for the young.
                            
          iv) Building shelter
             Beavers built their shelter together. Living in groups helps      
             animals to find or build shelter easier.