[00:02.70]Unit 22 Environmental Protection Lesson 2
[00:08.46]Exercise 3 Listen to the lecture.
[00:11.41]Use the Strategies to write some notes.
[00:14.76]Today's lecture will focus on the serious issue
[00:17.75]of endangered species.
[00:19.90]By now we should all be aware that the symbol
[00:22.61]for endangered species is the giant panda.
[00:26.08]one of rarest animals in the world.
[00:28.95]Apart from the few found in zoos,
[00:31.49]giant pandas live only in the bamboo forests
[00:34.54]of Central China.
[00:36.58]The number of giant pandas has fallen
[00:38.94]because of human activity destroying
[00:41.36]much of their habitat.
[00:43.35]As pandas only eat bamboo,
[00:45.49]it is important to preserve forests
[00:47.61]for the panda's continued existence
[00:50.00]in the wild.
[00:51.76]A survey in June 2004 showed that
[00:54.91]because of conservation efforts,
[00:57.61]the number of pandas has increased
[00:59.89]from 1,000 to 1,600.
[01:03.61]This is thrilling but 1,600 giant pandas
[01:07.52]are still too few.
[01:09.72]Although 120 giant pandas
[01:12.29]are in special centres and 20 live in zoos
[01:15.59]around the world,
[01:17.13]we must continue our efforts
[01:19.15]to save their natural environment
[01:21.42]so they can have more babies
[01:23.29]and live in the wild.
[01:24.06]