Lesson 7 , Task 2

Some people think that a huge amount of time and money is spent on the protection of wild animals and that this money could be better spent on the human population. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Outline

Essay Type

Opinion essay (Agree/disagree)

Introduction

Refer to the statement – a dilemma. Disagree with the opinion.

Body

Paragraph 1: The protection of wild animals is a priority. (1) wildlife extinction results in an ecological crisis, which affects human survival. Example: whaling and fish stocks. (2) protecting wild animals = preserving habitats. Example: rainforests and wetlands. These affect climate. Destroy these and endanger food production.

Paragraph 2: Protecting wildlife benefits human communities – it promotes ecotourism. Example: Serengeti National Park in Africa. Tourism creates local jobs.

Conclusion

Disagree with the statement – we must protect wildlife and this can help people, too.

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Sample Essay

While there is so much human suffering, the spending of resources to protect wild animals presents an ethical dilemma. However, I disagree with the opinion given, because it is possible to allocate resources intelligently to benefit both the animal and the human population.

The protection of wild animals must be high on the agenda of every individual citizen and government. Firstly, the red list of endangered species in increasing every year. If wildlife extinction continues, then humans may face an ecological crisis which impacts on their own survival. For example, if the practice of whaling is not halted, the ecosystems of our oceans will be altered forever, and this may affect fish stocks on which so many communities depend for a living. Secondly, protecting wild animals means protecting the habitats in which they live, such as rainforests and wetlands. If habitat destruction is permitted, climate change will affect our capacity to produce food to sustain the growing human population.

The formation of wildlife reserves not only protects wildlife, it also brings benefits to communities. In order to generate revenue for their management and to eliminate poaching, responsible ecotourism to observe animals in the wild can be developed further. This has been shown to create jobs in such places as the Serengeti National Park in Africa. The result is increased prosperity when local communities, especially in developing countries, are involved in the running of wildlife safaris, which attract visitors to the reserves. Thus, the application of intelligent strategies brings benefits for humans and wildlife.

In conclusion, I disagree with the view expressed in the statement. It is in the interest of everyone to protect wildlife, and creative solutions have shown that this need not be a drain on scarce resources.

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The ever-increasing human population often leads to the paucity of resources, both in the terms of capital as well as natural resources. There is one school of thought which presumably argues that a copious amount of money is splurged over wildlife conservation and that it should not be encouraged. However, my opinion is in contradiction with this very statement. This essay enlightens the same.

The “Red Data Book” enlists several species which are endangered or on the verge of being extinct and the major causes of it as well. The dynamics which have contributed to the ailing health of the wildlife are majorly relevant to human actions, directly or indirectly. The usages of certain environmental deterrents like chlorofluorocarbons, DDT, and other hazardous pollutants have been major culprits in this regard. That being said, a lot of damage is already done, which to a larger extent is irrecuperable. The need of the hour, however, is to preserve and fortify the wildlife. For instance, the species of Asiatic Lion, which are only found in parts of India now, were deemed ‘Endangered’ mainly because of habitat loss owing to climate change, grazing, growing agricultural demands, etc. Therefore, it is of prime essence that government and authorities should indeed focus on the judicial methods to safeguard the wildlife.

The government should invest in the rehabilitation of the natural environment, as in the purview of substantial development it is very crucial that nature and its resources are intact and unblemished. For the generations to come, rather than considering it as an extravagant expenditure, it is an investment that the generation today should make economically so that the future cohort is stable and imbibed with an inclination towards setting a concord with the earth and its constituents.

It could appear as an arduous deal to spend money and capital on wildlife. However, it could promote and foster economical status as India largely attracts the international footfall for its flora and fauna, and hence it rather would be a prudential decision to strengthen the tourism baseline and capital bolstering.

Conclusively, it is in the best of human interest that government spends and invests in the fortification of conservation of wildlife and is not at all an extravagance.

Vocabulary :

Animals and animal rights:

• An ethical dilemma

Meaning: a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two different things, relating to beliefs about what is morally right and wrong

Example: Governments are facing an ethical dilemma over the use of animals in laboratory testing for drugs and cosmetics.

•  The practice of whaling

Meaning: the activity of hunting and killing whales

Example: In order to protect these beautiful creatures, the practice of whaling should be banned completely.

• Wildlife reserves

Meaning: protected areas for wild animals

Example: The creation of wildlife reserves is essential to save animals such as tigers from extinction.

• In the wild

Meaning: in a natural environment not controlled by people Example: Animals in the wild are able to exhibit their natural behaviour.

Government:

• To allocate resources to

Meaning: to make money and materials available to do something

Example: If governments allocate more resources to improving public transport, this will reduce the problem of traffic congestion in cities.

• To be high on the agenda

Meaning: to be among the first things in the list of actions to be taken

Example: The security of its citizens must be high on the agenda of governments

everywhere.

Environment:

• Endangered species

Meaning: plants or animals that exist in only very small numbers, so that in future they may disappear forever

Example: One example of an endangered species is the lowland gorilla, which has almost disappeared as the result of the destruction of its forest habitat.

• An ecological crisis

Meaning: a serious situation that occurs when the environment of a species or population changes in a way that threatens its continued survival

Example: Environmental degradation caused by human activity is provoking an ecological crisis which threatens our existence.

• Habitat destruction

Meaning: the process that occurs when a natural habitat, like a forest or wetland, is changed so dramatically by humans that the plants and animals which live there can no longer survive.

Example: The elephant population in the world is declining because of habitat destruction caused by human exploitation of the environment.

• To eliminate poaching

Meaning: to stop all illegal hunting of wild animals

Example: In wildlife reserves, guards should be employed to eliminate poaching and to protect endangered species of wild animals.

Tourism:

• Ecotourism

Meaning: organised holidays which are designed so that tourists damage the environment as little as possible

Example: Ecotourism will become increasingly popular in the future, as more and more people become aware of the need to protect the environment.

• Wildlife safaris

Meaning: holidays (often in Africa) to see wild animals Example: The company organises wildlife safaris in Africa to see lions and elephants in their natural habitats.

Other Vocabulary :

• An ecosystem [noun]

Meaning: all the plants and creatures living in an area, considered in relation to their environment

Example: Marine pollution is damaging ecosystems in oceans across the world.

• Running [noun]

Meaning: the action of operating or managing something

Example: As a shop manager, she is involved in the day-to-day running of the business.

• To be a drain on [expression]

Meaning: a thing that uses a lot of time, money or energy

Example: Military spending is a drain on the resources of the country, and the money could be better used to provide a good health service.