Activity 3: The Power of Ten

Sir David Attenborough is a famous TV presenter from England who loves nature and the natural world. He has spent his career filming documentaries about the planet and working hard to protect it. In a recent interview, Sir David was asked to reflect on all that he had learned and to imagine that he had suddenly been given the power to save 10 animals and/or plants from extinction (disappearing forever).

After thinking about the question, he listed these 10 species (animals/plants):

1. Black Lion Tamarin (pictured to the right)

2. Sumatran Rhino

3. Solenodon

4. Olm Salamander

5. Spatuletail Hummingbird

6. Darwin’s Frog

7. Sunda pangolin

8. Priam’s Birding Butterfly

9. Northern Quoll

10. Venus’s Flower Basket

Let’s imagine that you had the same power and that you could save 10 species (animals or plants) from extinction. Who would you save? If I had the choice I would probably save animals like the elephant, white tiger and rhinoceros because they are unique and have lived for centuries on earth. I would also like to save some of my favourite flowers including hydrangeas and calla lily flowers. What about you?

On your blog, list 10 species (animals or plants) that you would protect from extinction. For each one, give a reason as to why you think it is important to protect.

1. Bengal Tigers because there are less than 2,500 of them left.

2. The Western Black Rhinoceros because they went extinct years ago.

3. The Kakapo because it's native to New Zealand.

4. The Dodo because I've always wanted to see what they looked like when they were alive.

5. The Kokako because they are native to New Zealand.

6. Black Robins because there are only a few of them left.

7. The Sumatran Elephant because there are only 2,400 - 2,800 of them left.

8. The Giant Panda because pandas are losing their habitats.

9. Polar bears because global warming is melting Antarctica.

10. Narwhales because they're my favourite sea creatures.