Zoo babies

Zoo Babies

Many animals are endangered. This means that, because there are so few of them left in the world, they are in danger of becoming extinct. Wellington Zoo is one of the many zoos around the world that work together to breed endangered animals. The zoo keeps records of where all the animals have come from.

Cantik is one of Wellington Zoo's Sumatran tigers. She is nine years old and came from a zoo in Holland. Sadly, Jambi, the male tiger, died recently. He came from the Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney. Cantik and Jambi had two sets of triplets, including Jaka, Mencari, and Molek. The three cubs now live at Hamilton Zoo.

There are only about 400 to 500 hundred Sumatran tigers left in Sumatra. Their numbers are still dropping because they have been hunted and because their habitat is being destroyed. There are about 250 Sumatran tigers in zoos around the world.

The red panda is another endangered animal that Wellington Zoo is successfully breeding. Their habitat is the bamboo forests of Tibet, Nepal, India, and China. Many of these forests have been destroyed, and red pandas are now endangered. Reka and Jay live at Wellington Zoo. Reka, the mother, came from Auckland Zoo. Jay, the father, came from Johannesburg Zoo in South Africa. Reka and Jay have had twins. Shahin, the young male, will soon be going to Adelaide Zoo. His sister, Kitar, will stay in Wellington until the zoo decides where she go.

Sixteen chimpanzees live at Wellington Zoo. There are six adult females, three adult males, and seven young ones. The young chimpanzees range in age from Gombe, who is nine, to Bahati, who is two. In their wild habitat in Africa, chimpanzees live in groups. Chimpanzees are endangered for many reasons. People have used them as pets and for laboratory testing. They have also been hunted for food, and their habitat is being destroyed as forests are cleared.

Wellington Zoo is working with other zoos around the world to make sure that endangered animals like Sumatran tigers, red pandas, and chimpanzees have a healthy future.




Task

Read the article "Zoo Babies". Now read the statements from the article and for each statement:


decide if it is true (T) or false (F).


write a sentence or sentences from the article that give evidence to justify your decision.

The first one has been done for you.








Statement

True or

False

Evidence


a)



Wellington Zoo is trying to save endangered animals.

T

"Wellington Zoo is working with other zoos around the world to make sure that endangered animals... have a healthy future."


b)



There are less than 1 000 Sumatran tigers left in the world.

T

There are only about 400 to 500 hundred Sumatran tigers left in Sumatra.


c)



Red pandas live in bamboo forests in the wild.

T

Their habitat is the bamboo forests of Tibet, Nepal, India, and China.


d)



Wellington zoo keeps all the baby animals born in it.

F

Wellington Zoo is one of the many zoos around the world that work together to breed endangered animals.


e)



In Africa chimpanzees live alone.

F

In their wild habitat in Africa, chimpanzees live in groups.


f)



Kitar will stay in Wellington Zoo for the rest of her life.

F

His sister, Kitar, will stay in Wellington until the zoo decides where she go


g)



Changes in the habitat mean that some animals might disappear forever.

T

Their numbers are still dropping because they have been hunted and because their habitat is being destroyed.


h)



Jay, the father red panda, came from South Africa.

T

Jay, the fatjher, came from Johannesburg Zoo in South Africa.


i)



Wellington Zoo knows exactly where all its animals come from.

T

The zoo keeps records of where all the animals have come from.