The Hunting Problem

Man has always been a hunter. He still is. But many modern hunters don't just kill for food - they kill for profit. That's why so many rare and protected animals are still dying. Hunters like these are called poachers. In 1981 there were 15,000 black rhinos in Africa. Today, because of illegal hunting, that number is 4,500.

In the 1970s there were 1.3 million African elephants. Today, because of poaching, there are under 85,000. In the I940s, 90% of skins and furs came from wild animals. Today that number is 15%. That's because most modern skins come from fur farms.

Fur Farm Facts:

There are more than 2,000 in Scandinavia and 340 in Russia.

They don't keep rare or protected animals.

Fur farmers kill and sell over 34 million minks every year.

Animals in fur farms live in good conditions and die without pain (the farmers give them an injection).

But what about the other 15% of furs? Well - these still come from wild animals. Hunters catch most oh them in traps. These are made of metal and are very sharp. Most animals caught in traps die very slowly.

The USA traps over 20 million animals every year. The most popular furs are: mink, sable, fox, squirrel and lynx. These rare animals are all in danger because hunters kill them for their fur: snow leopard, jaguar, ocelot, Indian tiger cat, lynx.

The solution: The fur trade argument.

Stop the fur trade.

It's wrong to keep wild animals in cages.

It's wrong to kill animals for fashion and profit.

It's wrong to kill wild animals in traps.

It's wrong to sell the fur of rare, protected species.

Statements:

1. People started hunting in 1981.
2. Hunters today kill animals for profit.
3. The protection of animals is reliable today.
4. Hunters who kill animals legally are called poachers.
5. The number of poachers today is 4500.
6. The African black rhinos are in danger on the brink of extinction.
7. There are 1.3 million African elephants today.
8. 90% of skins and furs come from wild animals today.
9. Fur Farms don't keep rare or protected animals.
10. 34 million minks are killed and sold every year by Fur Farms.
11. Animals in the Farms die without pain.
12. 15% of furs come from wild animals today.
13. Wild animals are caught by traps.
14. Canada traps 20 million animals every year.
15. The author of the article thinks that it's wrong to kill animals for fashion and profit.

Exercise 7. Read the following text “Extinct and Endangered Animals” and fill in the gaps with the words given below: