WRITING TASK 2 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Some species of animals are almost extinct; and many others seem to be fast approaching a similar risk. What are the reasons for this? What should be done to solve this problem? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience. Write at least 250 words.

One of the most pressing environmental concerns of the modern age is animal conservation. It is apparent that many

species

of

animals

are facing extinction which has devastating consequences for the diversity of life on our planet. The purpose of

this

essay is to examine the reasons for

this

problem and suggest some preventative measures. The major threat to the survival of animal

species

is humankind.

This

is clear in the illegal poaching of endangered

animals

like tigers and rhinos which are hunted for sport and to be sold on the black market. Many

species

of fish are

also

the victims of overfishing which has a disastrous

effect

on fish numbers.

However

, we have

also

had a profound

effect

on animal life in the way in which we live. Rapid urbanisation over the

last

one hundred years has had a highly destructive

effect

as cities and towns encroach on many animal’s ecosystems.

Also

, in order to sustain our growing population, more and more space is needed for agriculture.

This

is most evident in the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest which has endangered many

species

. One final negative human influence can be seen in the changing environment. Animal ecosystems are the result of millions of years of evolution whereby the

animals

have adapted to their surroundings. Climate change threatens to alter these surroundings at an incredible rate which could have cataclysmic results for many

animals

. A clear example of

this

is the habitat of the polar bear which is expected to be drastically reduced over the next few decades. Despite these

problems

Add a comma

problems,

show examples

there are some measures that could be taken to address the problem. Governments around the world need to share responsibility for protecting

animals

and implement more severe punishments for animal poachers and hunters. We can

also

have larger protected areas and national parks where human activity is limited. Perhaps the most difficult problem to address is that of climate change which would mean a dramatic change in human behaviour. In conclusion, we can see that humans are having a very negative

effect

on animal numbers. We need to take responsibility for the protection of animal numbers by reducing the number of

animals

being killed directly and indirectly by human activity.