EWS2601/101/3/2024

Assignment 02 – Semester 1 (2024)

This assignment is based on Theme 5, ‘Actively engaging with our world’, of your study guide,
specifically Study Unit 19 within Theme 5. To orient yourself it is essential that you start off by
reading through this unit. However, you will not find the answers to the questions we are asking
here in that unit. In completing this assignment, you will have to conduct some academic research
and find additional information from the Internet or other reliable academic sources (DO NOT
USE WIKIPEDIA) in order to provide fuller answers and further perspectives about the particular
species you have chosen. The assignment focuses on the importance of maintaining biodiversity.
Biodiversity refers to the existence of a large number of species in the natural environment.
Biodiversity is under threat, however, because so many different kinds of animal species are
endangered as a result of human activities. This is important because ecosystems are healthier if
they consist of a balance between many different kinds of creatures, that is, if there is biodiversity.
Ecosystems need to be healthy because we depend on them for providing us with clean water and
clean air, as well as food and many other kinds of natural resources.

Instructions
• In order to do this assignment, you need to provide answers to the questions that appear
below.
• Each of your answers to the questions below should be approximately ½ page long (or
approximately 200 words).
• Each of your answers carries 20 marks.
• Please note that your assignment should be referenced according to the instructions in the
SOCAL36 tutorial letter (If you fail to reference the sources consulted you will be
penalised heavily).

• Do not use Wikipedia as it is not a reliable academic source. Also, google is not a source,
it is a search engine; as such, do not list google links as your references

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Select any ONE animal species that is endangered in Africa. Then, on the basis of the research
you have done, answer the following questions in relation to the species that you have chosen.
Because there are so many different kinds of endangered animals we will not be prescriptive
about which one you must choose. The only criterion is that it is a living thing in Africa that is
endangered (this does not include types of people, of course). We give you a list of endangered
species to indicate what we have in mind, but you can focus on any other species that is close to
your heart and/or that you can find information on.
Possible species:

• Large mammals such as Rhino’s, Elephants, Tigers, Polar Bears and Gorillas.
• Small mammals such as different species of mice and bats.
• Sea creatures such as whales (which are also mammals), turtles and sharks, as well as fish
types that are in danger as a result of overfishing.
• Birds such as the Blue Crane or different kinds of vultures.
• Reptiles such as many different kinds of lizards or snakes, and amphibians such as the
various types of frogs.
• Endangered insects, such as bees or butterflies.
• As you can see from these examples, the list of endangered species is endless. You need to
select one of them.

Questions

After reading Theme 5 in your study guide, watch the below YouTube videos before answering the
questions. You should provide an introduction and a conclusion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUZvXQg7tJc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C15NXPb67QE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3se4aLHcqs

1. Explain what biodiversity is and why it is important to humankind. Use African examples
to support your answer.
2. Describe the animal species you have chosen and its habitat (should be a species that
exist in Africa).
3. Explain the circumstances that have made the chosen animal species endangered.
4. Discuss some of the initiatives that have been taken by t h e A f r i c a n governments,
NGOs and the private sector to help protect this animal species.
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5. As a responsible citizen, what would you do to protect the endangered

species from harm?

Assessment criteria

• Your answers will be assessed according to the following criteria.

• Each answer should be approximately ½ a page (or approximately 200

words) in length. The assessor who will mark your work will only mark
the first 200 words of each answer, so ensure that you restrict yourself to
the word limit in each of your answers. Please also note that you are
expected to interpret the information you found, and cannot simply copy
and paste from your sources. You will not be credited marks for
plagiarizing sources.

• In addition to carrying relevant content, the answers needs to be clearly

and logically structured, and written clearly and succinctly.
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Total marks for Assignment 02:

100 marks