Choose the The Dodo is a tragic victim of human ruthlessness.

In 1505 Portuguese captain Pedro

correct answer Mascaren has discovered Mauritius and the Reunion Islands. Here, they found large, flightless
birds that weighed about 15 to 20 kg and nested on the ground, eating fruits that fell from the trees.
Pedro Mascaren There were no mammals on this island, although a large number of bird species lived in the dense
was a …
forests. The sailors found that the birds were easy prey and welcome source of fresh meat. There
A. Sailor are reports of sailors killing 50 birds, Soon Mauritius became a regular haunt of the spice traders.
B. ornithologist However it was the conversion of Mauritius into a penal colony by the Dutch in 1644 that tipped

C. hunter the balance against Dodo. The settlers cleared the forests, and brought with them dogs, cats and
guns that put the last Dodo in a cooking pot in 1681. Today no museum in the world has a
Dodo nested…… complete specimen of Dodo. Dodo is related to doves, and has evolved from ancestors who could
fly. Due to isolation and absence of predators, they lost their ability to fly.
A. on the tree

B. on the ground What distinguishes the dodo from many other birds is not just its
C. in the beach. size, but that it was flightless. Despite its large build, the dodo had small, weak
wings which could not lift it into the air. Thus it was easy prey to the Portuguese
invaders who would club the bird to death as it approached them seeking friendship.
The last dodo Dodo wobbled and the belly would drag on the ground amusing the sailors. The only defense of
was killed in…
the bird was a sharp beak, which it used to deliver fearsome bites.
A. 1681 The tragedy of the dodo highlights the possible effects mankind can have upon the
B. 1505 environment, and the ease with which humanity can disturb the delicate balance of an ecosystem

C. 1644 by eradicating whole species.

'The more helpless the victim, the greater the crime!'

Match the words with their synonyms

Ruthlessness in spite of

Despite predecessor

Invader cruelty
Idiom: Dead as a dodo: If
something's dead as a dodo, it is Now try to answer these questions
lifeless and dull.
1.
1. How did dodo lose its ability to fly?

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2. Who do you think eliminated dodo from the world? How?
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“Humanity can disturb the delicate balance of an ecosystem by eradicating whole species.”
Do you agree with this statement? Justify your answer..
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There are so many other birds who feared to be Write your suggestions on how those birds can be
disappeared from the world soon (endangered Birds).
survived
In groups refer and make a list of those birds.
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'’The Earth has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed!'’