[Introduction] [The Big Question] [Going About It] [Background] [Find Out] [The Plan] [The Poster]

Introduction

You have been assigned an endangered or threatened animal. (here's the list if you need a reminder.) You and your team must make a poster with a plan for saving this animal from extinction.

The Big Question

What is the best way to deal with the problem of your endangered animal?

Going About It

Your group will work together to come up with a way to deal with the problem of the endangered animal. You'll begin with some training and background. There are many organizations which help save endangered animals, and the United States has had an Endangered Species Act since 1972 which provides laws to help.

Background

• Endangered Means There's Still Time, a National Conservation Training Center slide show which explains the problem of endangered creatures. Click through the whole slide show. (http://training.fws.gov/deo/endang/INDEX.html)

Look at one or another of these sites too:

• Endangered Species Program - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - This is a site which will give you all the important information about the Endangered Species Program, including information about individual endangered species. (http://endangered.fws.gov/)
• Endangered and Threatened Species of Pennsylvania - This is close to home. Here you can find out what local species are endangered. (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/wrcf/contents.htm)
• The 2000 IUCN Red List of Endangered Species - This is the world list of endangered species. (http://www.redlist.org/)

Be prepared to answer these questions during the next science class:

1. What does endangered mean?
2. What are two examples of endangered species? How did each of them become endangered?
3. What is the main reason most species become endangered?
4. What are two examples of species that became endangered because something in their ecosystem had become disturbed?
5. Name two ways that wildlife biologists are working to save endangered species.
6. What are two species that are success stories, brought back from the brink of extinction?
7. How can you help?

Find Out

What is Its Habitat?

Find out all about your animal and its habitat in the wild. Use the sites that you already saw, the ENDANGERED SPECIES OF THE WORLD encyclopedia in the library, and also these:

• Expedition: Endangered! Exploring a World at Risk - This web site of the American Museum of Natural History gives a great overview of the causes of endangerment, and some information about individual species. (http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/Endangered/)
• NatureServe: An Online Encyclopedia of Life - This gives information about endangered species (and some common ones as well). (http://www.natureserve.org/)

Here are some questions to answer:

1. What is the name of your animal?
2. Give some general information about this animal, (eating habits, hunting skills, breeding habits, etc.)
3. What is the scientific name of your animal?
4. What region does this animal come from?
5. Is this animal now extinct, threatened, or endangered?
6. Why or how did this animal become harmed?
7. What are some ways that this animal can be helped?

Who Is Helping?

Next, you must find out how people and organizations help animals. Look at these sites.

• Defenders of Wildlife - Defenders of Wildlife is an organization that is dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities, including predators such as wolves. (http://www.defenders.org/)
• Planet Ark - Your Daily Guide to Helping the Planet - This is a resource of current news about the environment. I suggest searching the news archive for news about endangered animals. (http://www.planetark.org/index.cfm)
• World Wildlife Fund - Endangered Species - This organization works with governments and research organizations to help develop recovery programs.(http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/species.cfm)

1. How do environmental groups help endangered animals?
2. What kinds of projects do they have?
3. What things do they say to persuade people to help them?

What Plans Work?

Here are a couple of examples:

• Project Puffin - This is a great example of a recovery plan. Even though puffins are not endangered elsewhere, they were gone from the island, and now they have returned. (http://www.projectpuffin.org/)
• Red Wolves of Alligator River - This is also a good example of a recovery project. (http://www.nczooredwolf.org/)

Look around for others. Maybe you can even find one about your endangered species! Answer these questions:

1. How do people help animals recover from extinction?
2. What do people consider the best type of plan, one which is based in a zoo or one which is based in the animal's natural habitat?
3. Which would be best for your animal?

The Plan

Now you must come up with a recovery plan. Discuss with your group the best way to help your animal. You must think about all kinds of things. For instance:

1. How will you teach people not to endanger your animal? (advertising campaigns, education programs, field trips, visiting animal shows, etc.)
2. Where will you work? (zoo, nature preserve, open countryside)
3. What kind of organizations will be working with you? (zoo, government scientists, farmers, hunters, conservation organizations)
4. If your plan works, how can you tell? (number of animals, breeding pairs, number of births per year, how far they are spread out)
5. How will you keep your animal from being endangered again once your plan works?

The Poster

Together you will make a poster for your plan. You can use drawings, pictures, and text. Here's the process:

• Put the name of your group and your group members on the poster somewhere.
• Give background information and pictures that show you understand the topic.
• State the task and your group's answer.
• Illustrate your plan carefully.

Be prepared to present your plan and your poster in class. Each member of your group should be prepared to give at least two reasons why he supports the plan.