In Spring 2008, the polar bear was placed on the endangered species list. According to the Endangered Species Act, an endangered species is an animal that is likely to face extinction in its natural habitat. Polar bears have been categorized as a "threatened" species. The ESA defines a threatened species as one that is likely to become "endangered" in the foreseeable future.
The polar bear is the first animal that has been classified as endangered due primarily to global warming. Global warming is caused by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that become trapped in the atmosphere. Heating homes, driving cars, and burning garbage all require fossil fuels that lead to global warming.
The polar bear's habitat is more vulnerable to global warming than many other species. Polar bears live mainly on the sea ice in the Arctic. This is where they hunt for fish and build up fat reserves. When the ice melts many polar bears move to land and live off their stored fat. In the Arctic, global warming is causing the ice to melt slightly earlier and form slightly later. This results in a shorter feeding season for the polar bear. Some risk their lives to find ice. If they have to swim too far they will drown from exhaustion and hunger. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that 25% of the Arctic sea ice has disappeared in the past 30 years.
It is not only the polar bear that is at risk in the Arctic. Every species of plant, animal, and insect there is threatened by global warming. Nevertheless, environmentalist groups such as the World Wildlife Fund often study large carnivores in order to assess the health of an ecosystem. The Arctic food chain relies on the polar bear. In addition, donations are more commonly offered for the protection of large animals such as bears or elephants. People in general are less interested in conservation efforts that protect small wildlife, such as plants or insects. However, by using donor money to protect the habitat of the larger animals (ex. reforestation programs), entire ecosystems can be protected.
It is important that animals such as the polar bear make it onto the endangered species list. Once they are on the list there are laws that protect these animals from being hunted for food or sport. Agencies also receive money and tools to protect the habitat and recover the species. The goal of removing the animal from the list is often achievable. Since the Endangered Species Act was introduced in the US in 1973, many species have been taken off the list due to increased populations. In fact, it is rare for a species to go extinct after they make the list. Sadly many species do go extinct while waiting for consideration.
I think that we must protect all species on the world and that we shouldn't risk the existence of none of these. We must stop the polution of the atmosphere with the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. It's good that some people are fighting to save the existence of this species that are dying for no reason. Ultimately I think that it isn't fair and that the people that are fighting against it is doing a good job and spending their lives at a good cause.
ResponderEliminarI agree with the protection of endangered species because they are living beings like us and if they die we can not enjoy them.Also I think that we have to stop the polution of the world for the good of all.Jorge Henríquez Yanes
ResponderEliminarI think that we have to end with the global warming not only for the species in danger of extinction, also for us. But for this,the world must take into account the large species and small species. In my opinion there are many people who don't consider this a problem and they think only in animals, for example, when they refer to clothing made with animal skins. In conclusion, I wish there were more environmental groups and people who don't still understand what this means, let them open your mind and make them see what really happens.
ResponderEliminarIsabel Ayut González
I found this text very interesting becouse it tells the causes of global warming and discusses the endangered species like the polar bear and, in my opinion, it's a very important issue. I completely agree that getting on the endangered species list is crucial for populations that are at risk of extinction.
ResponderEliminarThe quiz wasn't really difficult but if you don't really understand the text, it was a little complicated. Anyway, if you had any doubt, the solution was next to the question!
Bárbara Pérez, 1ºA
This test speaks of how human action affects to the lives of polar bears turning them into endangered species. This is due to the combustion of carbon dioxide which is necessary for life, but in excess it is detrimental for animals and also for humans.
ResponderEliminarIn my opinion it is important that we all know the consequences of climate change suffered by the planet to help stop it. If it is not so, will occur a rise of sea level, increasing the global temperature, the extinction of species, etc... We must act as soon as possible because if we don´t do anything we can´t stop it!
Claudia Martínez Barreto.
Hello techaer:
ResponderEliminarI like this text because I like nature and I agree with anybody who wants to help the endangered species and its habitats. But I think that we can not do much to stop global warming because it is a natural process. But we can make it happen slower.
In my opinion the quiz is easy and perfect to learn to understand texts in English. But some people will think otherwise that me.
Edgar L. Concepción Hernández, 1º A Bachiller
In my opinion it's very important to protect endangered species because they've been there for a long time, we can't just make them disappear because of our selfishness. We hurt animals, for eat, for fun, or for make clothes. Do we really need to do that?
ResponderEliminarWe've to do something, I think that the endangered species list it's something very useful because make people conscious about this animals in danger But it's not just the endangered species, it's our future, the climate change will afect humans as well. What's our legacy to our children? A world without beatiful creatures as the polar bears? Where the rainforest have became deserts? We have to change our actions and our mind!
Eduardo González Rodríguez, 1ºA
Se lo envio por Davinia, que no tiene cuenta:
ResponderEliminarHi teacher !
In my opinion, this is an issue that everybody must resolve as soon as possible because if we contaminated, not only the environment will be damaged, we will also be damaged .I think if we put everyone on our part, the world will be a better place, we have to work together about the environment, war, etc. ..
It′s not just that we should do it, we MUST do it, because the most beautiful and important thing on our planet it′s the nature, including polar bears, whales, forest... if we don′t protect nature, we won′t enjoy it any more.
Davinia Pérez Pérez. 1ºA
I liked the article and more knowing that they are doing "everything" possible for these animals in danger of extinction and those are not. Have to making many exams for the rest the animals and protecting them from all that threatens it.
ResponderEliminarHello teacher!
ResponderEliminarI think that this text is very interesting but, especially, it's necessary because if people read more texts like this, would be more aware of the situation of our planet.
Most of the content is about global warming and polar bear; in my opinion, we must think how we feel when we lose the house for example. Is the same situation as the polar bear when the ice melts our fault. As the text says, the polar bear isn't the only animal that is endangered and we have to do everything that we can to save the lives of these animals. The global warming is more important than what we think and we must act before it's too late.
Helena Castro Ferraz 1º BACH "A"
I liked this text because it is a reflection of how humans treat nature as gradually destroyed. I think we should care for endangered species and their habitat, but I disagree with global warming. I think it's natural and it is on faces because it existed in antiquity and there wasn't a lot pollution.
ResponderEliminarIn my opinion the quiz was easy if you understand the text and if you had any doubt you could see the answer next.
Lara Chacopino Hdez
Hi teacher!
ResponderEliminarWell, I think that this text is very interesting and that it can make us conscious about all the global problems. However, if the politicians are doing nothing to remedy the problems of humans, can we do anything for the global warming? This is a disgrace. We are losing species as wonderful as the polar bear unconsciously.
It is true that all we could get together to improve all these universal problems. Instead of being so unconscious wasting energy and polluting the environment, we should look for another solution because nobody will do it for us. Today are the polar bears, tomorrow will be all sorts of species including us. This is what we want for our world? I think not. But before try to find solutions for endangered species, we must start from take care from the environment.
Desirée Álvarez Caetano 1ºBACH-A
In my opinion we should use the money to protect the habitat of endangered animals, rather than waste it, you should consider more the possibility of eradicating the pollution we produce giving consent to the atmosphere, such as by burning oil,but if we give money to save endangered species, I think it should be used for narrow purposes and not for other things.The pollution is a serious problem that we can solve if we involve with this problem.I also believe that global warming affects not only polar bears it affects humans too.For me, all species should be into the list because all of them are endangere species because the global warming affects them too.
ResponderEliminarRaquel Martínez Peña Nº 22
Verónica Pérez Fernández, 1ºBACH-A.
ResponderEliminarIn my opinion the government should pay atention to ''ecologist'' groups like Greenpeace and colaborate on climate change and it's impact.I think the government should think more about animals that money.