Animals are dying out – level 3
12-03-2025 07:00
Humans have caused the extinction of species like the great auk and pushed many others, such as orangutans and hedgehogs, to the brink.
The great auk, a flightless seabird, was hunted for food, feathers, and oil, disappearing completely in 1844. This tragedy helped scientists realize that human actions can drive species to extinction. Today, deforestation, pollution, and climate change are causing a sixth mass extinction. Over a million species are at risk, with entire ecosystems collapsing. The humble hedgehog, for example, is disappearing due to urban expansion, pesticides, and habitat loss.
In 2022, countries pledged to protect 30% of the planet by 2030. Individuals like Hotlin Ompusunggu, an Indonesian dentist, have also made a difference. She offers low-cost treatment to those who protect forests, which helps save orangutans. To prevent mass extinction, governments, businesses, and individuals must work together.
Difficult words: brink (the edge), pesticide (a substance used for destroying insects or other organisms harmful to cultivated plants or animals), habitat (the natural home or environment of an animal or plant).
You can watch the video news lower on this page.
How did the disappearance of the great auk reveal the dangers of overexploitation, and what global and local actions are being taken to help protect endangered wildlife and ecosystems?
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