Task 1: Endemic Species

When an organism is only found in a certain place, such as a particular country, we can describe that organism as endemic. For example, the Maltese Wall Lizard (‘Gremxula ta’ Malta‘) is only found in Malta. We can say that this species is endemic to the Maltese Islands. Learn more about the Maltese Wall Lizard by watching this video.

Many plants, such as the Maltese Rock-Centaury (‘Widnet il-Baħar‘), are endemic to the Maltese islands. Click on the local website http://www.maltawildplants.com/, managed by Mr. Stephen Mifsud, scroll down and look for the section titled ‘Endemics’. Try to familiarise yourself with 2 more local endemic plants. Were you already familiar with any of them? Were you aware that they only exist in our country? Share what you have learnt with members of your family.

Task 2: Endangered Species

Can you guess what the term ‘endangered’ means? Go back to http://www.maltawildplants.com/. This time round have a look at the section called ‘Endangered Species’. How many endangered plants species can you count?

The ‘Wild Tulip’ is one of Malta’s endangered plant species. Click on this link http://www.maltawildplants.com/LILI/Tulipa_australis.php  and look for the ‘remarks’ section. Why is this plant endangered? What past human practices have put this plant in an endagered state? What current human practices are not helping the Wild Tulip species?

An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct soon. Watch this video that explains the term ‘endangered’ and that provides some examples of endangered species from around the world.

• List three reasons mentioned in the video that can make organisms become endangered.
• List three reasons mentioned in the video that can prevent organisms from becoming endangered.

Task 3: Extinct Species

A species is considered extinct when it is no longer in existence. All individuals would have died out.
How do living things become extinct? Watch this video to find out.

Dinosaurs are the most known example of exctinction, aren’t they? Dinosaurs became extinct around 65 million years ago. Is extinction something of the past? Unfortunately this is not the case. Watch this video to learn about animals that got extinct in recent years.

Task 4: What can you do?

The future of living things also depends on us humans. It also depends on you. Watch this video and answer the questions underneath.

• According to this video, how many species of plants have already become extinct from the Maltese Islands?
• What about animals? Did any get extinct from our country?
• L-‘Għargħar’ (Sandarac Gum Tree) is Malta’s national tree. How did humans effect this species positively in recent years?

The video ends with the question, ‘X’tista` tagħmel int?’ (What can you do?). One thing you can do, is to support environmental Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that work very hard to protect Malta’s living things. Below is a selection of three such NGOs. Clicking on the logos will take you to each NGO’s website. Find out what each NGO is doing to help living things, and consider following, supporting or joining the NGO that interests you most.