Endangered+Species+-Can+they+be+saved?

__**Overview:**__

In 1973 Congress passed the Endangered Species Act to protect plant and animal species facing extinction. Any individual or organization may petition the Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service to add a species to the Endangered Species List. Depending on the risk of extinction, a species may be listed as endangered or threatened. In either case, the species becomes protected by the law. It is illegal to hunt, buy, or sell endangered species, their body parts, or products. Another component of the Endangered Species Act is to preserve ecosystems on which endangered plants and animals depend. Saving endangered species is a complex issue that has become controversial as well. Some people believe that the costs do not justify the results, especially when preserving the habitats of endangered or the curtailment of development. Other critics point out that for every success, there are many more failures. All this leads some to wonder: When a species stands in the way of human development, should it be saved?

**__Situation / Problem:__** It has been estimated that over one hundred plants and animals are becoming extinct around the world each day. For this project, you (and your partner) is to select an endangered species, research why it is in danger of becoming extinct, and what is being done to save it. Based on the information you find, you are to predict its chances for long-term survival. You will present your findings to the class.

**__Possible Strategies:__**
 * 1) Review a list of endangered species, and decide which animal or plant you (and your partner) would like to research. You may chose from the list below or chose one of your own from your research. To narrow your choices, do some preliminary research on several species.
 * 2) Divide the tasks for this project (if working in partners). You will need to be concerned with research, analysis of the facts, drawing conclusions, creating materials to support conclusions, and making predictions.

__** Websites: **__
 * http://www.well.com/~davidu/extinction.html --> "Ctrl F" will bring up a search option. Type in your animal.
 * http://www.cheetahssp.org/PDFs/Namibian_Cheetah_PHVA_1996.pdf --> pg 14 starts the population data on Cheetahs
 * (I searched "data cheetah populations" on google.com)
 * @http://www.mjkelly.info/cheetah.pdf --> Some good graphs you can gather data from
 * http://www.iucnredlist.org/search --> Good info on cats in danger of becoming extinct
 * www.fws.gov/data/ --> This site for the US Fisheries and Wildlife Service was down earlier, hopefully it will come back up
 * @http://www.prb.org/Datafinder/Topic/List.aspx?category=13 ---> Cool data site in general
 * http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/geography_environment/environmental_industry_threatened_and_endangered_species.html --> From the US Census (2008)
 * @http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2007/geography_environment/environmental_industry_threatened_and_endangered_species.html --> From the US Census (2006)
 * http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/past_years.html --> Data from the US Census back to 1900!!

**__Special Considerations:__**
 * In researching your species, concentrate your efforts on questions such as the following:
 * Why is this species in danger of becoming extinct?
 * Where is its habitat?
 * Who or what is responsible for its being in danger?
 * When have the greatest number of the species' population been lost?
 * What is being done to save the species?
 * What is the cost of the preservation efforts?
 * Who is involved in trying to save the species?
 * What are the chances of the species' long-term survival?
 * Maintain an accurate list of your sources. Use MLA documentation format.
 * After gathering your information, analyze your facts and draw conclusions. Include a prediction of the species' long-term chances for survival. Be sure to back up your predictions with facts.
 * Support your conclusions with materials such as graphs, charts, and tables - for example:
 * Stem-and-leaf plots
 * Bar Graphs
 * Line Graphs
 * Circle Graphs
 * Use computers for your research as well as to help you create support materials.
 * Plan your presentation.

**__To Be Submitted:__**
 * 1) Conclusions:
 * Select an endangered species
 * Research why it is in danger of becoming extinct
 * What is being done to save it
 * Predict its chances for long-term survival
 * 1) Graphs, tables, charts supporting your conclusion
 * 2) Presentation


 * =  ||~ Endangered Animal ||~ Primary Habitat ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Big-horn sheep ||= California ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Black-footed ferret ||= Western Canada to Texas ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Blue Whale ||= Oceans around the world ||=   ||
 * =  ||= California Condor ||= California ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Cheetah ||= Africa, eastern Iran, India ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Chimpanzee ||= Africa ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Gorilla ||= Central and western Africa ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Gray Wolf ||= Eastern Europe, Russia, Canada, US, Mexico ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Florida Panther ||= Florida ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Humpback whale ||= Oceans around the world ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Ivory-billed woodpecker ||= Southeastern US, Cuba ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Jaguar ||= Southwestern US, northern Mexico, Central & South America ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Ocelot ||= Southwestern US, Mexico, Central & South America ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Short-tailed albatross ||= Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Northern Pacific ||=   ||
 * =  ||= Whooping Crane ||= North America ||=   ||