Name

Date

Spotlight on Endangered Animals

Pam L. Camel is producing a special episode about endangered mammals. Read the clues below. Match each clue with a mammal shown. Write the mammals name on the blank. Then color
and cut out each mammals picture and glue it to the correct spotlight.
1. When people began destroying 7.
bamboo forests for farmland,
many of my species starved
to death.
_________________________

Because the beaches I breed

on are being developed for
tourism, I am under great
threat.
_______________________

2. Poachers still hunt me just for

my horn.

8. Poachers often hunt me to

sell my head, hands, and feet
as souvenirs.
_________________________ _______________________
3. Although Im the fastest land
mammal, hunters catch and kill
me for my beautiful fur coat.
________________________

9. I am overhunted for blubber,

food, and oil.

4. I am the largest living land

mammal, hunted and killed for
my tusks.

10. When prairie dogs were

poisoned and their homes
were plowed up, I became an
endangered species.
_______________________

_________________________

_______________________

5. Hunting from aircraft and

11.
motorboats is now banned in
the Arctic Circle, where I am
found.
_________________________
6. I am almost extinct, hunted
mainly because people are
afraid of my bark and my bite.
_________________________

I have to compete for food

with my cousin, the spotted
hyena.
_______________________

12. A mane reason I am

endangered is that I am
hunted for sport.
_______________________

black rhinoceros

African elephant

Mediterranean
monk seal

black-footed
ferret

Asiatic lion

polar bear

mountain gorilla

giant panda

brown hyena

gray wolf

cheetah

blue whale

The Education Center, Inc. Teachers Helper TEC8476 Feb/Mar 2000

Mammals: endangered species

47

How To Use Page 47

Spotlight on Endangered Animals

1. Give each student a copy of page 47, crayons,

scissors, and glue.
2. Share the background information on this page with
students.
3. Have students complete the page as directed.

Background For The Teacher

Endangered species are living things threatened with
extinctionthe dying off of all organisms of their kind.
Today, humans are the biggest threat to other mammals.
Humans have caused a rapid decline in the number
of mammals in the wild for various reasons, including
hunting, trading, and destruction of habitats.
Wildlife biologists use three main classifications for a
species that faces possible extinction: (1) endangered, (2)
threatened, and (3) rare. Endangered species face the
most serious threat of extinction. Their survival is dependent upon direct human protection. Threatened species
are still numerous in some areas, but still face serious
dangers and are under great threat. Rare species are not
declining, but have small populations in a few protected
environments.
Each species of plant and animal plays an important
part in the balance of nature. Therefore, the extinction of
any species threatens the survival of other living things,
including humans. Survival of these animals is dependent
upon the establishment and careful management of large
nature preserves and parks.

Answer Key
1. giant panda
2. black rhinoceros
3. cheetah
4. African elephant
5. polar bear
6. gray wolf
48

Mammals: endangered species

7. Mediterranean monk seal

8. mountain gorilla
9. blue whale
10. black-footed ferret
11. brown hyena
12. Asiatic lion