Written by Robert E. Slavin and Richard Gifford Matter

Ideas That Written by Robert E. Slavin and Richard Gifford Matter

Written by Robert E. Slavin and Richard Gifford

Developers: Robert E. Slavin, Kate Conway, Richard Gifford, Alli Hoge, Wendy Fitchett Editors: Janet Wisner, Jodie Littleton Designers: Barbara Colquitt, Devon Bouldin

Image Credits: Creative Commons Attribution–Generic 2.0: Dan Shapiro/NOAA Photo Library (blue whales, pg. 6-7), Joseph Brandt/ USFWS (Condor and chick, pg. 23) Creative Commons Attribution–Share Alike: Keith Schengili-Roberts (Passenger pigeon, pg. 8) The Jane Goodall Institute: © Michael Neugebauer (Jane and Freud, pg. 15) Shutterstock.com: Andamanec, Andy Dean Photography, Col, Cranach, Dan Thornberg, Dean Pennala, dedek, Dennis Donohue, Elena Schweitzer, Eric Isselee, George Lamson, Holbox, Hung Chung Chih, Iakov Filimonov, Ivan Kuzmin, Jag_cz, jeff gynane, Kane513, kojihirano, Kristof Degreef, Lisovskaya Natalia, Norm Diver, ntnt, Pal Teravagimov, Reinhold Leitner, Saddako, Sergey Novikov, TeeraPhoto, TFoxFoto, Trekandshoot, Vladimir Melnik U.S. Geological Survey

The mission of the Success for All Foundation is to develop and disseminate research-proven educational programs to ensure that all students, from all backgrounds, achieve at the highest academic levels. These programs were originally developed at Johns Hopkins University.

300 E. Joppa Road, Suite 500, Baltimore, MD 21286 phone: (800) 548-4998, ext. 2372 fax: (410) 324-4444 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.successforall.org Table of Contents

Introduction...... 4

Why are species endangered?...... 8

What are people doing to save endangered animals?...... 19

What Conservation Means for Humans...... 26

What can you do to save animals?...... 29

Glossary...... 31

Index...... 32

3 Introduction Do you want to live No blue whales? These and thousands few of them today, in a world where there No chimpanzees? of other species are and they could be are no lions or tigers? No rhinos? endangered. That gone tomorrow. Once No California condors? No polar bears? means that there are they are extinct, they cannot be brought back.

4 Most people understand how endangered species and how important it is to keep species people around the world are living in the wild. Studying trying to conserve, or save, endangered animals helps us them. But it is also about how understand our environment helping endangered animals and how humans affect the to survive may help our own world. This book is about species survive.

Polar Bear

Chimpanzee

Condor

5 Species Spotlight: BlueBlue WhaleWhale

Blue whales are They swim alone, in the biggest animals pairs, and sometimes on Earth. In fact, in small groups. They scientists think they may live to be more are bigger than the than 100 years old. biggest dinosaurs. Blue whales grow Blue whales are noisy to be more than 100 animals. They make feet long and weigh vocalizations or more than 200 tons. sounds that scientists Their hearts alone believe can be heard can weigh more by other whales than a car. hundreds of miles away. These sounds These huge mammals may be used for are found in all the communication. oceans of the globe.

6 Like bats, blue tangled in fishing whales may also gear, and pollution. use sound to navigate in deep, In 1966, hunting blue dark ocean waters. whales was banned by international Blue whales were law. Since then, almost hunted to researchers think extinction in the that the blue whale 1900s. More than population has made 300,000 whales were a small comeback. killed for their oil. Today it is estimated They are also hurt that between 10,000 or killed by collisions and 25,000 blue with ships, getting whales still survive.

7 Why Are Species Endangered?

All endangered species When Europeans have been on Earth first came to America, for millions of years, there were billions so why are they of passenger pigeons. endangered today? They were cheap food because there were Hunting and so many, and they Fishing were so easy to catch Some species are or shoot. In the 1800s, endangered, or have you could buy become extinct, a passenger pigeon due to overhunting to eat for two cents. or fishing. One Hunters killed every example is the passenger pigeon passenger pigeon. in America. The last one on Earth died in a zoo in 1914.

8 Hunting is also a problem in However, poachers kill Africa. In most countries, many animals. For example, Elephant it is against the law to hunt elephants are killed for endangered animals. their ivory tusks, and rhinos are hunted for their horns.

Rhino

9 Many kinds of fish that extinct as a result of were once common have overfishing and pollution. been fished to near Atlantic bluefin tuna extinction. For example, are also in trouble. caviar (salted sturgeon It is estimated that the eggs) is a very expensive bluefin tuna population food. In the Caspian Sea, has declined by nearly Sturgeon these fish are almost 90 percent since the 1970s.

Bluefin Tuna

10 Species Spotlight: SiberianSiberian TigerTiger

The Siberian Tiger is the Poaching and the loss largest tiger in the world. of habitat have reduced It lives in the mountains the number of Siberian of Russia. These tigers used tigers to around 350. to live in China and Korea The fur from these tigers as well, but they are now is so valuable that poaching extinct there. continues, even though it is illegal.

11 Loss of Habitat Many animals lose their An animal’s home habitat when people move is called its habitat. into the area looking A habitat includes all the for land. In the Florida things that an animal needs Everglades, farmers to live. For example, polar drained a lot of swamps bears need to live in the to use the land for growing Arctic. They thrive in crops. This left many the cold temperatures of alligators, fish, birds, and this region. The animals other animals without that they eat, such as homes. Luckily, the state seals, also live there. of Florida decided to save Most monkeys need to the rest of the Everglades. live in a rainforest. They There is still a lot of swamp need tall trees and lots of for the animals that need fruit to eat. Alligators and this habitat. However, there crocodiles need swamps are far fewer animals than full of fish. there were before.

12 Humans are also moving Trees are also logged into animal habitats in other to make lumber for parts of the world. Some of building. In Oregon and the animals that live in these Wisconsin, forests were habitats are endangered. cut down to make lumber. This hurt species such Logging is another as the northern spotted major cause of habitat owl. In the 1990s, the U.S. loss. In some places, government limited logging forests are cut down to in this region to help make way for farms and protect the spotted owl. ranches. In Brazil, more than 200,000 square miles Loss of habitat is also a have been cleared to raise problem in China. It affects crops and cattle. This pandas and many other has done serious damage animals. Pandas live in a to the rainforest. Many particular kind of mountain animals, such as jaguars habitat. They only eat a and spider monkeys, specific kind of bamboo. depend on the rainforest. Much of their habitat has In Africa, people are also been destroyed for farming cutting down trees to start and human settlement. farms. This has endangered This has led to the starvation elephants, lions, hippos, of many pandas. 13 and other species. Jane Goodall: Champion of the Chimpanzees

Jane Goodall is a wildlife She started working to save Goodall’s love of chimpanzees biologist famous for her their habitat. Goodall began began when her father gave study of chimpanzees. a program to find homes for her a toy chimpanzee when However, Goodall doesn’t chimpanzees whose parents she was a little girl. She loved just study chimpanzees. had been killed by poachers. the little monkey so much She also works to help them She also founded Roots and that it still sits on her dresser and other animals. Goodall Shoots. This program works many years later. saw that the destruction of with kids around the world African forests was hurting on projects that help animals the chimpanzees. and the environment.

14 As a young woman, Before Goodall, most Goodall was hired to scientists thought that study chimpanzees in only humans made Africa. She went on to or used tools. She make very important also discovered that discoveries about these chimpanzees have many primates. behaviors in common with humans. They hug. Goodall learned that They kiss. They even chimpanzees make pat each other on the tools. They would pick back. Goodall believes stalks of grass and that these behaviors stick them into termite show that chimpanzees mounds. Then they care for each other like would pull out the stalks humans do. and eat the termites. The chimpanzees were “fishing” for termites.

15 Pollution It made their eggshells thinner. In 1972, DDT was banned in the Pollution is a serious problem This made the eggs easier to United States. Since then, these for many species. For example, break. Even the parents sitting bird populations have started DDT is a chemical pollutant. For on the eggs could break them. to recover. many years, it was used to kill Fewer baby birds hatched. DDT insects such as gnats. However, almost caused the extinction of DDT had harmful effects on bald eagles, ospreys, and other some bird species as well. bird species.

16 Pollution is also very The mercury gets into the harmful for fish and other ocean and is absorbed sea animals. The Great by algae. Small fish eat Lakes used to be full of the algae. Larger fish eat blue walleye. These fish the small fish. Mercury are now extinct. Scientists stays in these larger fish. believe that pollution is Then humans catch the one of the major causes fish and eat them. Over of their extinction. time, mercury can build Humans are harmed by up in a person’s body. the same pollution that If enough mercury builds harms fish. Poisons, such up, it can cause problems as mercury, are produced like high blood pressure, by energy plants that weak muscles, and loss burn coal. of hair and teeth.

17 Climate Change the sea ice disappears, Burning gasoline, oil, it becomes harder for coal, and wood has the bears to get food. caused temperatures to This leads to sickness rise all over the world. and starvation. These temperature changes may be Climate change (and endangering some pollution) is also species. For example, causing coral reefs there is less sea ice to die. Coral reefs can’t now in the Arctic. Many survive in warmer scientists believe that ocean waters. Many this development is very fish species live only bad for polar bears. on or near coral reefs. The bears hunt for seals If the reefs die, so will from the sea ice. As these fish.

18 What Are People Doing to Save Endangered Animals?

People are doing a lot to try their habitats. In the to save endangered species. United States, there are Countries all over the world many national wildlife have passed laws to protect refuges. California has these animals. In most several refuges specifically places, it is illegal to hunt or for the California condor. harm them. People are also Uganda has a special park trying to reduce pollution. to protect gorillas. Costa A cleaner environment Rica has many wildlife is good for all animals, parks that protect the including humans. rainforest. These parks are home to monkeys, Many countries have set birds, lizards, and aside parks or reserves other animals. to protect animals and 19 Species Spotlight: California Condor

Thousands of years ago, They can grow more than four Condors are a type of vulture. California condors could feet tall, their wingspan can They are scavengers, which be found all across North be ten feet wide. In the wild, means that they eat animals America, from coast to coast. condors sometimes live to be that have already died. Indians in the western states more than fifty years old. Condors usually eat large considered condors sacred. mammals, such as dead They are also the largest cows and deer. flying birds in North America.

20 The California condor Condors suffered from came very close to poaching and loss of extinction in the 1970s. habitat. Like other birds, At this time, there they were also harmed by were only around 30 of DDT. Baby condors often these birds still alive. die from eating trash fed The exact causes of to them by their parents. this decline are still not known. Scientists believe Many condors are also there were probably killed when they fly into multiple reasons. power lines. These birds don’t lay very many eggs. This makes it hard for condors to increase their numbers.

21 When the number of to breed them. In the lay another one. from the egg condors dropped to a wild, condors usually In this way, that the scientists few dozen, scientists only lay one egg every scientists doubled removed is raised decided an emergency two years. However, the number of eggs and fed with hand rescue plan was scientists found that being produced puppets that look needed. Every wild if they removed the and increased the like adult condors. condor was captured. egg, the mother number of hatchlings. Then scientists began condor would often The chick that hatches

22 After the number Today there are It is important for people make money of condors grew, about 220 condors people to protect as drivers and guides scientists began to living in the wild. endangered species. for the visitors. The release them back However, the Governments are local people no longer into the wild. The California condor is showing people how have to earn money condor population still one of the rarest helping animals by killing the animals. slowly grew. birds in the world. helps them. Some These trips also make countries set up more people aware of trips for tourists the problem. This is to visit exciting called ecotourism. animals and beautiful When the ecotourists places. Tourists go home, they then understand are more likely the importance of the to help the animals animals, and the local that they’ve seen.

23 Gorillas and Tourists These people are to buy a $500 permit to the World Wildlife tourists. They have for the trip. They also Federation. This The early morning mist come to Uganda to see have to pay for hotels, money pays the still clings to the hills as the famous mountain food, drivers, trackers, locals who help the the group begins their gorillas. They are and other services. tourists. It is also used journey. For the next willing to walk for hours This money helps to buy land. This forest several hours, they trek to catch a glimpse the people of Uganda will be left alone to through thick forests. of the great apes. And and the gorillas. Each provide more habitat They walk along slippery they are willing to gorilla brings Uganda for the gorillas, instead paths. Sweat soaks their spend a lot of money to about one million dollars of being cut down clothes as the heat rises do it. Each person has per year, according to start farms. with the sun. Does this sound like a vacation?

24 A huge gorilla rests He knows nothing on his back in the of the high price they sun. He is eating have paid for the ginger and ignoring privilege of taking his the clicking noise that picture. He just knows comes from the small it’s good to lie in the group of strange sun and eat ginger. hairless apes off in the distance.

25 What Conservation Means for Humans

Conservation of also poison us. endangered species Polluted air is bad is important because for both animals and we care about animals. humans. Dirty water It is also important makes fish and people because we care sick. Climate change about people. leads to flooding, loss of habitat, and crop Many of the things damage. Humans that harm animals and animals are hurt also harm humans. by these changes to The same chemicals the environment. that poison animals

26 Protecting the Limiting construction environment is one around streams, rivers, of the best ways to lakes, and oceans also protect animals and helps. When grass, humans. Trees absorb trees, bushes, and other the carbon dioxide that plants grow near bodies is made by burning fuels, of water, they act as so the more trees, the filters. Polluted water better. This will make our gets cleaned as it flows air cleaner. If you want through the dirt that to help, research local these plants grow in. organizations that plant By the time the water trees in your area. A good reaches a river, lake, or place to start is www. ocean, it is much cleaner. arbordaynow.org.

27 Using less energy caught in it. Recycle Species Spotlight:Spotlight: PandasPandas: and producing less and conserve energy trash is also good for by turning off lights, Everyone loves giant animals and people. games, televisions, pandas. Yet they are When we use less and other electronic still endangered energy, fewer fuels appliances when in the mountains like oil and coal you’re not using them. where they live need to be burned. in China. Farmers When we produce If we want to protect and loggers have less trash, fewer animals and people, cleared many of the animals are harmed we have to protect areas where pandas by eating it or getting the earth! once lived. Their remaining habitat is now protected, and scientists think that there are about 1,600 pandas in the wild, plus 266 in zoos.

28 What Can You Do to Save Animals?

The best thing you can do Check www.aza.org to find Avoid pesticides to help save endangered a zoo near you, www.nps.gov for in your family’s 1species is to learn about parks, and www.fws.gov/refuges 4garden and lawn. them. Visit zoos, nature parks, for wildlife refuges. For alternatives to pesticides, and aquariums, and ask a lot of see www.beyondpesticides.org. Many zoos have summer questions. Read books, and look volunteer or education Avoid products made on websites. Then you’ll know programs for kids to learn from endangered what you’re talking about when 2 about animals. See if a zoo near species, such as you say that conservation is 5 you has such a program, and tortoise shells, ivory, important. see if you can participate. and coral.

You can help make your own home wildlife friendly. 3If birds run into your windows, put decals on them. 29 Join a conservation Take all trash home You can become organization. with you from the a member 6 8beach, lake, or river. 10 of Jane If you live near Goodall’s Roots and water, never throw Endangered Species Shoots program for 7anything in the Day is held on the young people at water that might harm 9third Friday in May. www.rootsandshoots.org. sea animals. This includes You can go to events in anything made from your area to learn more plastic, which animals about endangered species. may swallow, or fishing Check out www.fws.gov/ line or hooks. endangered/index.html.

30 GLOSSARY

absorb: To soak up. biologist: Person who studies living things. carbon dioxide: Colorless, odorless gas in Earth’s atmosphere. conserve: To protect something. ecotourism: Tourism that attempts to help the environment and animals. endangered: To be at risk. extinct: No longer living. habitat: Area in which an animal or plant naturally lives. logging: Cutting down trees. navigate: To find a route through a place. poachers: People who hunt illegally. primates: Species of mammal with a large brain and complex hands and feet. species: Group of animals with the same characteristics. thrive: Grow and live well. tourists: People who travel for fun.

31 INDEX

Africa 9, 13, 15 climate change 18, 26 giant panda(s) 28 polar bears 4, 12, 18

alligators 12 coral reef 18, 26 Goodall, Jane 14, 30 pollution 7, 11, 16-19 America 8, 20 Costa Rica 19 Great Lakes 17 Roots and Shoots 14, 30 Arctic 18 crocodiles 12 hippos 13 sea ice 18 bald eagle(s) 16 DDT 16, 21 jaguars 13 seals 12, 18 blue whale(s) 4, 6, 7 elephants 9, 13 lions 4, 13 Brazil 13 Siberian tiger 10 Endangered mercury 17 Species Day 30 California 19 spider monkey(s) 13 Europeans 8 North America 20 California condors 4, 20, 21, 23 Everglades 12 osprey(s) 16 Uganda 19, 24, 25

carbon dioxide 27 farm(s) 13, 25 panda(s) 16, 28 United States Caspian Sea 11 farmer(s) 12, 28 passenger pigeon 8 National Wildlife chimpanzee(s) 4, 14, 15 farming 16 poacher(s) 9, 14 Refuges 19 China 10, 16, 28 Florida 12 poaching 21, 10 whale(s) 4, 6, 7

25853 CCG0220