1

2
bonobo
Brazilian merganser
Chatham albatross
Indian gharial
giant panda
Javan rhino
kiwi
markhor
snow leopard
sturgeon
Tasmanian devil
vaquita
Yangzi river dolphin

All these animals are endangered.

Why? Brainstorm.
What do you know about these animals?
Do some research and present your findings.

Do you know any other endangered animals?

Work in group and make a list.
Animals are classified into levels of
vulnerability by IUCN. What are these?
Would breeding in captivity be a solution?
Give pros and cons and other solutions.

10

11

What do you think about hunting or killing

animals? Is it okay? When is it not okay?
Why would anyone possibly want to kill a
harmless animal? Give reasons.
Do you know any animals that are extinct?
Tell the class about one. What happened?

12

13

Would it be a tragedy if these animals died

out? Could we live without them? Explain.

Teacher Notes

This answer key is deliberately kept concise since the idea of these Conversation Corners
is to talk rather informally and share information, not being given all the information by
the teacher. BTW, the conversation should focus more on expressing opinions than giving
correct answers.
Students could be given the opportunity to do some research on the Internet to find more
information and answers to the questions.
Also, students could prepare questions they were unable to answer and give a short
presentation during the next lesson.
Have a dictionary at hand (or an Internet connection) if possible so students can look up
new vocabulary.
Lots of useful information on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_specie s
bonobo
Brazilian merganser
Chatham albatross
gharial
Giant panda
Javan rhino
kiwi
markhor
snow leopard
sturgeon
Tasmanian devil
vaquita
Yangzi river dolphin

8
13
6
3
1
11
2
10
9
5
12
4
7

Loss of habitat, hunting, poaching, human

encroachment, logging, trapped in nets,
pollution etc.

Answers may vary.

Tiger, mountain gorilla, orang utan, rhino, etc.

(see website)
(see website above and box on the right)

IUCN Categories include:

Extinct: the last remaining member of the species has died,

or is presumed beyond reasonable doubt to have died.

Examples: Javan Tiger, Thylacine,Dodo, Passenger Pigeon, Caribbean

Monk Seal, Dimetrodon, Aurochs, Dusky Seaside Sparrow

Extinct in the wild: captive individuals survive, but there is

no free-living, natural population.
Critically endangered: faces an extremely high risk
of extinction in the immediate future. Examples: Mountain
Gorilla, Arakan Forest Turtle, Darwin's Fox, Javan Rhino, Brazilian
Merganser, Gharial, Vaquita

Endangered: faces a very high risk of extinction in the near

future. Examples: Dhole, Blue Whale, Bonobo, Ethiopian wolf, Giant
Panda, Snow Leopard, African Wild Dog, Tiger, Indian Rhinoceros,
three species of Albatrosses, Crowned Solitary Eagle, Philippine
Eagle, Markhor, Orangutan,Grevy's zebra, Tasmanian Devil,

Vulnerable: faces a high risk of extinction in the mediumterm. Examples: Cheetah, Gaur, Lion, Sloth Bear, Manatee, Polar
Bear, African Golden Cat,Komodo dragon, Golden hamster

Conservation dependent: The following animals are not

severely threatened, but must depend on conservation
programs. Examples: Spotted Hyena,Blanford's fox, Leopard
Shark, Black Caiman, Killer whale

Near threatened: may be considered threatened in the

near future. Examples: Blue-billed Duck, Solitary Eagle, Smallclawed Otter, Maned Wolf,Tiger Shark, Okapi

Least concern: no immediate threat to the survival of the

species. Examples: Nootka Cypress, Wood Pigeon, White-tailed
Mongoose,House Mouse, Wolverine

Answers may vary.

Other solutions: stricter laws or enforcement
of laws, change of attitude and customs, more
wildlife reservations etc.
Answers may vary.
OK: for food, indigenous tribes etc.
Not ok: for sport or when animals are
endangered. Catching small or baby specimens,
only using part for food (e.g. sharks fins) etc.

For food, sell its horn (rhino) or ivory, hunting

trophy, rite of passage into adulthood, for the
skin, fur or bones (e.g. tiger) to be used as
medicine or aphrodisiac etc.
Dodo, passenger pigeon, mammoth, sabretooth tiger, dinosaurs etc. (see website)

Answers may vary.