Unit 6
WRITING
Endangered species report
1. Match the pictures with the animals’ names. Then discuss the questions with a partner.
1. b (Komodo dragon: not found in Viet Nam; eats meat; classified as vulnerable)
2. a (blue whale: sometimes found stranded on Viet Nam’s coastal areas; eats small shellfish; classified as endangered)
2. Match the title with the correct section.
1. c
2. e
3. a
4. d
5. b
3. Choose one of the two species in 2 and write a report to describe it.
Komodo dragons are found in the wild on only 5 islands in Indonesia: Komodo, Rinca, Gili Montang, Gili Dasami and Flores, where they roam freely. They live mainly in forests, but can be seen scattered widely over the islands from beaches to hilltops.
Although they are called dragons, they look like a big lizard. A male adult can measure 3 metres in length and weighs 90 kilos. Komodo dragons eat meat. They are also fierce hunters and can eat very large prey, such as large water buffaloes, deer and pigs . They will eat even smaller Komodo dragons.
There are about 6,000 Komodo dragons in Indonesia. Humans are not a great danger to them. However, their population is slightly declining because there are more males than females. According to the IUCN Red List, Komodo dragons are not endangered, but they are considered vulnerable. About 30 zoos outside Indonesia have been trying to protect the Komodo. There are also plans to build more wildlife parks around the world, which will help to increase the population of this fascinating species.