Chapter 15 Section 6 What is wildlife conservation? Objectives: Identify the main threat to wildlife today. Describe two ways to conserve wildlife.

Endangered Wildlife All of the plants and animals that live in an area make up the area’s wildlife. Over the past few centuries, hundreds of plant and animal species have died out, or become extinct. Many more are endangered, or moving toward extinction. Once a species becomes extinct, it will never return.

Endangered Wildlife The African elephant is an endangered animal. There are very few African elephants left. Other species have been identified as threatened. This means their numbers are going down, although they are not yet considered to be endangered.

DEFINE: What is wildlife?

Loss of Habitat Loss of habitat is the main threat to wildlife. As the number of people on Earth increases, there is less space for other species. Land that was once covered with forests is now used for cities, farms, roads, and industry.

Loss of Habitat The tropical rain forests are rapidly disappearing. More than half of all plant and animal species that live on Earth today live in tropical rain forests

2. IDENTIFY: What is the biggest threat to wildlife today?

Laws and Wildlife One way to conserve wildlife is to pass laws that protect it. Some of these laws regulate hunting and fishing. In recent years, some countries have passed laws stopping the use of certain pollutants. There are also new laws to stop the destruction of wildlife habitats.

3. DESCRIBE: How do laws help protect wildlife?

Wildlife Refuges A wildlife refuge is an area, like a national park, where animals and plants are protected. Setting up wildlife refuges helps conserve wildlife. Some zoos also help conserve wildlife. Breeding programs at these zoos have helped save some endangered species from extinction. In some cases, members of some species are returned to their natural environment.

Wildlife Refuges In the United States, the National Wildlife Refuge System operates more than 500 wildlife refuges across the country. One example is Klamath Basin in Oregon and California. This vast region of shallow lakes and marshes protects many species of water birds and plants.

Wildlife Refuges Alaska has sixteen refuges, making up 83 percent of the entire National Wildlife Refuge System. On its 77 million protected acres are caribou, bears, moose, and wolves, among others.

4. STATE: What are two ways to conserve wildlife?

15-6 Classwork CHECKING CONCEPTS Wildlife in danger of extinction is called ___. To conserve wildlife, many different countries have passed laws that include rules for fishing, and ___. Once a kind of plant or animal becomes ___, it will never return. A wildlife ___ is an area where wildlife is protected.

15-6 Classwork THINKING CRITICALLY 5. INTERPRET: What does the statement “Extinct is forever” mean? 6. CONCLUDE: Is it important to save the rainforests? Why?