Christine A. Elmore
"Species" says McClung (1997) "that can't change their ways to adapt to new and perhaps harmful conditions, whether caused by natural forces or by human activities, face extinction" (McClung 1997). Who are the animals that face possible extinction and why are two questions that we will explore in this section of the unit. As I read each of the following books aloud to the class, we will keep a list on large chart paper of both the animals and the causes of their endangerment that we can refer to.
The first book entitled
Growing Up: Against The Odds
by Bernard Stonehouse features a wide diversity of animals growing up in situations where survival is tenuous. The focus is on the young animals that lack both the size and strength to fight against natural dangers like harsh weather conditions and predators. Danger also comes in the form of human activity (i.e., poaching, deforestation). The author writes: "It is not surprising that, though millions of young animals come into the world each year, all but a very few die within the first few weeks of life" (Stonehouse 2000). Included in this book are some endangered species like the giant panda, maned wolf, orangutan and manatee.
The second book I will read aloud is Lynn M. Stone's
Endangered Animals
which provides a factual account in simplified language of the causes of animal endangerment, which animals are endangered and the ways we can help them. Of particular interest are the suggestions she makes that our students can follow to help such animals. They include:
Write to a government conservation office to find out which animals are endangered near your home.
Look for endangered animals when visiting local zoos.
Volunteer to work at a park or wildlife refuge.
Don't buy wild animals as pets.
Join a group that supports endangered animals.
The author ends her book with a sober reminder. "Remember, when an animal becomes extinct, a type of life on our planet is lost forever" (Stone 1984).
A good reference book that I will introduce to my students is Clint Twist's
Endangered Animals Dictionary: An A to Z of Threatened Species.
This book describes each animal and its habitat. It also rates the threat of extinction on a five-level scale: extinct, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable and lower risk. This is an example of a book that I will not read cover to cover but just make reference to and show my students how to use. I will include in the examples I read the section on chimpanzees.
To introduce students to some of the causes of animal endangerment I will read Melvin Berger's
Animals in Danger
. He relates how animals are well-fitted to their environments and suffer greatly when they face habitat loss. Pollution and poaching also put many animals in danger. He includes mention of the giant pandas, orangutans, whooping cranes, African elephants and green sea turtles.
Following this general introduction to the subject of endangered species we will move to the specific causes of chimpanzee endangerment and for this we will refer back to Jane Goodall.