Dinosaurs, saber-tooth tigers and the dodo bird are famous examples __1__1 {( a& V' E C
of animals that have become extinct. In case of the dinosaurs, it __2__
1 k& B4 Q. T: W2 M( \* h& T seems likely that a catastrophic event alters the global climate __3__4 y8 @% _ h: O; H
enough to lead to their disappearance. More recent extinctions7 R& y7 s, x# j0 z) ?2 q
and near-extinctions-such as the blue whales, tiger, panda, and __4__) P/ a1 ?* `2 ^9 z8 @, m
North American bison—have been the direct result of human activity." e4 \( L: i1 E) M( r
By the early 1990s, species were becoming extinct at a rate of three
5 _* e5 r4 l. e: s6 ]* { per hour, or 27,000 every day – a figure quoted by the American0 e1 b- X' U+ ?9 _
biologist Edward O.Wilson of Harvard University, based on his- e1 b @. M: z# d5 ]* j+ ~' _5 h' Y
most conservative estimates. This rate of extinctions carries with
- _+ }+ _6 Y+ F2 m7 [ it some terrible consequences. Each plant that becomes extinct,/ h6 h5 p( P7 ~3 I: @2 t
for example, may take with it as much as 30 insects and animals __5__
) ^. D, U' W' h" s, s! ] that depend on it for food. Habitat loss is one of the most important
! M; K: o, {/ t1 x6 ]3 G: ~5 Q causes of extinction. For rising populations in many countries __6__1 t% S" ` f2 t6 E% m: M
lead to the clearing of more land, habitats such as raining forest __7__
' f, g' q! a% X* U and grasslands disappear.7 s' e- A& W! D, D* J7 ]9 D
In the East Africa, once renowned for its wildlife, few wild animals __8__
3 T: Z2 E# Z" [1 t# @ remain living outside the boundaries of national parks and game __9__
6 X; ?' n# S. D, R' J reserves. In other parts of the world, coastal ecosystems are clearing __10__
5 N8 H3 u% C$ D7 W, J8 ^& b5 }6 p" w for development. Wetland areas are drying out as a result of water; ]! O! |1 p: j* k6 l
extraction to support farming and tourism. Bird species are among5 O' r: X2 [# X0 U
the worst affected by the loss of wetlands. |