краткий пересказ

In Danger

No one really knows how many millions of species of wildlife exist on Earth, but one thing is for sure, plants and animals are all around us! Some live in the woodlands, rivers, hedgerows and ponds in and around our neighbourhoods. Others live in our school playgrounds, private gardens or even in the tiny spaces between grains of sand!

THE BIG PROBLEM Unfortunately, as towns and cities get bigger, humans are destroying these habitats. To build more houses and roads they are cutting down trees in woodlands and forests, which are home to animals such as foxes, otters, red squirrels and hedgehogs and beautiful plants such as bluebells and daffodils. Litter in the streets harms wildlife and poisonous chemicals from farms and factories are getting into rivers, ponds and lakes. When this happens, animals such as frogs, newts and species of birds and fish such as herons and trout can no longer survive. In the same way, many reptiles are dying out around ponds. In fact, three wildlife species become extinct every hour because of habitat destruction ... and it's humans who are causing all this damage!

THE SOLUTIONS So, what can we do to help protect the habitats around our towns and cities? Well, quite a lot actually! For example, you could find out about the different animal habitats near your home and about any problems that they have. Then you can write letters to the local council or wildlife charities to ask them to do something about the problems. Also, NEVER throw any rubbish in the street; pick up any litter that you see in woodland, hedgerows, gardens and parks. Lastly, why not create your own little wildlife habitats in gardens or even on balconies? It's actually quite easy to do!

[Рисунок: справа вверху — змея с подписью snake; справа внизу — лиса с подписью fox и лягушка.]