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Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

Animals in Danger

Spanish Translation

Imagine a world without apes or orangutans. The World Conservation Union says that these and thousands of other species may disappear. The group works with scientists and governments to identify threatened species. Then they try to protect the species.

On September 12, the group released a list of more than 16,000 plant and animal species that are in danger of becoming extinct. One in four mammals, one in eight birds and one in three amphibians are threatened with extinction. Why? Humans cut down trees, plant crops and ruin animals' habitats in other ways, too. Some animals are hunted illegally.

Bad News for Great Apes

The western lowland gorilla of Central Africa is in serious danger. Illegal hunting and a deadly disease are the main reasons. Despite efforts to save them, the Sumatran orangutans remain very near extinction.

Warmer oceans and overfishing have affected sea life. Corals and the Banggai cardinalfish are on the list for the first time.

The gharial (ger-ee-ul) is a crocodile that lives in India and Nepal. More than half of all gharials have disappeared in the last 10 years.

Still, the news is not all bad. Thanks to protection efforts, the Mauritius echo parakeet is bouncing back. "This shows that conservation can work," Julia Marton-LefEevre, director general of the conservation group, told TFK.

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