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Module 6 Animals in Danger 【美文阅读】 现在，越来越多的野生动物正在遭受灭顶之灾，是该采取措施保护野生动物了。 Animal Conservation Many animal and plant species have become extinct and many more are in critical(批评的，决定性的，危险的) danger.Finding ways to protect the earth's wildlife and conserve(保存) the natural world they live in is now more important than ever. Rhinos The rhino horn is a highly prized item for Asian medicines.This has led to the animal being hunted in its natural habitat.Once widespread in Africa and Eurasia, most rhinos now live in protected natural parks and reserves.Their numbers have rapidly decreased in the last 50 years, and the animals remain under constant threat(在不断的威胁下) from poachers. Giant panda The future of the World Wildlife Fund's symbol is far from certain.As few as 1,000 remain in the wild.The Chinese government has set up 33 panda reserves to protect these beautiful animals and made poaching them punishable with 20 years in prison.However, the panda's distinct black and white patched coat fetches a high price on the black mar ket and determined poachers still pose one of the most serious threats to the animals continued existence. Whales The International Whaling Commission is fighting to ensure the survival of the whale species.Despite the fact that one third of the world's oceans have been declared the whale sanctuaries, 7 out of 13 whale species remain endangered.Hunted for their rich supply of oil, their numbers have decreased to just 300.Collisions with ships, poisonous pollution and being caught in fishing nets are other major causes of whale deaths. | 
