In Danger

1. __________________

Many animal and plant species have become extinct and many more are in critical danger. Finding ways to protect the earth's wildlife and conserve the natural world they inhabit is now more important than ever.

2. __________________

It is a natural process. Many species had ceased to exist before humans evolved. However, in the last 400 years, the number of animals and plants becoming extinct has reached a crisis point.

3. _________________

In 2002, many animals remained threatened with extinction as a result of human activity.

Rhinos

The rhino horn is a highly prized item for practitioners of Asian medicine. So people began to hunt them in their natural habitat. Their numbers have rapidly decreased in the last 50 years, over half the remaining rhinos disappeared in the 1970s.

The Giant Panda

The future of the WWF's symbol is far from certain.  As few as 1,000 remain in the wild, living in small isolated groups. The Chinese government has set up 33 panda reserves to protect these beautiful animals and made poaching them punishable with 20 years in prison.

Whales

The International Whaling Commission meets every year. The agenda covers ways to ensure the survival of the species and the complex problems arising from countries such as Japan, wishing to hunt certain whales for 'scientific' purposes. Collisions with ships, toxic pollution and becoming entangled in fishing nets are other major causes of whale deaths.

Tigers

The last 100 years has seen a 95% reduction in the numbers of remaining tigers to between 5,000 and 7,000 and the Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers are already extinct. Like the rhino horn, tiger bones and organs are sought after for traditional Chinese medicines. These items are traded illegally along with tiger skins.