📘 Part 3: Wild animals

This episode's vocabulary

Biodiversity (noun) – the variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat. → The Amazon rainforest is known for its incredible biodiversity.

Genetic variation (noun) – differences in DNA among individuals of a species. → Genetic variation helps species adapt to changing environments.

Disease prevention (noun) – the act of stopping illnesses before they occur. → Vaccination is an important part of disease prevention.

Umbrella species (noun) – a species whose protection indirectly protects many others sharing its habitat. → The tiger is considered an umbrella species in many conservation programs.

Knock-on effect (noun) – an indirect result of an action or event. → The new law had a knock-on effect on the housing market.

Go hand-in-hand (idiom) – to be closely connected or related. → Innovation and risk-taking go hand-in-hand in business.

Safeguard (verb) – to protect something from harm or damage. → The new regulations aim to safeguard endangered species.

Biosphere (noun) – the part of Earth where life exists, including land, sea, and atmosphere. → The biosphere is essential for maintaining life on our planet.

Endangered (adjective) – at serious risk of extinction. → Pandas are one of the most famous endangered animals in the world.

Inhumane (adjective) – cruel or showing a lack of compassion. → Keeping animals in tiny cages is considered inhumane.

Enclosure (noun) – an area surrounded by a fence or wall, especially for animals. → The lions were resting in their enclosure.

At large (phrase) – in general; as a whole. → These environmental issues affect society at large.

Untapped (adjective) – not yet used or exploited. → The rainforest contains many untapped medicinal resources.

Yield (verb) – to produce or provide something, such as results or resources. → The forest yields valuable timber and medicinal plants.

Horrendous (adjective) – extremely unpleasant or terrible. → The oil spill caused horrendous damage to marine life.

Habitat destruction (noun) – the process by which a natural habitat becomes unable to support the species living there. → Habitat destruction is one of the main causes of species extinction.

Conservationist (noun) – a person who works to protect the environment and wildlife. → The conservationist spent years studying elephants in Africa.

Captive breeding (noun) – the process of breeding animals in controlled environments like zoos. → Captive breeding programs have helped increase panda populations.

Sustainable (adjective) – able to be maintained without harming the environment. → Sustainable farming protects both people and nature.

Extinction (noun) – the state of a species no longer existing. → Human activity has pushed many species to the brink of extinction.

Questions and Answers

Maria: Why should people protect wild animals?

Rory: Oh, all kinds of reasons. All species contribute to the planet's biodiversity, which is useful for things like genetic variation and disease control, and prevention. There are also things called umbrella species, which means that in the course of protecting them, we protect the animals that share their habitats too. So the knock-on effects of preserving them are really worth promoting.

Maria: Is it more important to protect wild animals or the environment?

Rory: I think they go hand-in-hand, kind of, don't they? You can't really have animals without an environment, but at the same time, what's the point in preserving a habitat devoid of all animal life? If you've got to pick one, though, I suppose it's better to safeguard the environment, since that would benefit human beings more directly.

Maria: Should people educate children to protect wild animals?

Rory: Well, I think they already do, and it makes sense, however you look at it. Logically, we need animals to support the biosphere, and looking after them ensures that we will benefit from that. But also morally, I think if we're nicer to animals, or as nice as we can be, then I think that contributes to a more moral, caring society.

Maria: Why do some people attach more importance to protecting rare animals?

Rory: Well, they could be, and I think they frequently are, umbrella species, like I mentioned before, but their rarity is also part of their symbolism, so by investing in their care, we invest more in the value of the animals for us, although maybe that's a bit esoteric. More relatably, if an animal is endangered, there's a greater sense of urgency in keeping them safe, so the logical option seems to be investing more effort in looking after them.

Maria: Do you think it's important to take children to the zoo to see animals?

Rory: No, absolutely not. In fact, I'm dead set against zoos. The treatment of animals in zoos is inhumane and unnatural. You learn nothing from keeping them in enclosures and cages. Well, nothing other than the high regard human beings have for themselves, and being able to cage the poor things up for display purposes. There's nothing worthwhile about them; it's a money thing, pure and simple.

Maria: Why are some people more willing to protect wild animals than others?

Rory: Ah, well, there's great value in keeping animals in their natural state. We already talked about the relationship between animals and the biosphere and the environment at large. So, protecting animals preserves the natural beauty of these places, as well as the natural balance that allows them to yield things like oxygen for the planet and medicines, if we're talking about trees at least. And then there are the untapped genetic resources that such places might yield. If they are wiped out, then we might lose that, and then you suffer horrendous consequences as a result. So people who promote this idea are perhaps more aware of that compared to other people.