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<< Learning more about animals is an important part of preserving endangered species. At the Ketambe Research Station in Sumatra, Indonesia, a young orangutan is fed milk from a bucket. Photograph by Michael Nichols

Create a map that shows where some endangered species live in the world.

Have you ever heard someone use the term "dead as a dodo"? The dodo this saying refers to was a flightless bird species that lived on an island in the Indian Ocean.

The bird, which weighed about 46 pounds (22 kilograms), first encountered humans in the 16th century. Inhabitants of the island found that they could easily hunt and kill the dodo, both for food and for sport. By 1681 there were no dodos left on the island or anywhere else in the world. They had become extinct.

People often associate the word "extinct" with dinosaurs, which have not lived on Earth for more than 66 million years. But there are many creatures, like the dodo, that have only recently become extinct. Many scientists blame these extinctions on humans. Although extinct species cannot be brought back to life, plants and animals that are endangered, or in danger of becoming extinct, can still be saved.

Preserving endangered species is considered by many scientists to be the key to preserving biodiversity, or the variety of life. Biodiversity is important not only because we enjoy having many different types of plants and animals, but also because all living things play important roles in the "ecoregions" in which they live. Ecoregions are what World Wildlife Fund calls places characterized by distinct climates, ecological features, and plant and animal communities.

As the director of a zoo it's your job to teach people about the importance of biodiversity. Create a map that shows where some endangered species live around the world. Each of the species presented here lives in a different ecoregion. For an interactive look at ecoregions, explore our Wild World maps.

Can you figure out where each of the species on the landform map lives in the wild? Study their pictures to learn more about them, then guess which areas on the map would suit them best. Once you think you know where an animal lives, select the continent from the list below the image. You will discover more about each animal's habitat and diet, once you have found its home.

Younger Xpeditioners: Choose an endangered animal and learn more about its appearance, habitat, and diet using the Web. One good site is Bagheera: In the Wild. Then draw a picture of the animal's everyday life.

Older Xpeditioners: Read the "Extinction: What can we do?" essay by Virginia Morell. Morell asks some tough questions about the Earth's recent extinctions. What do you think?

Write down your reactions and then ask others for their opinions. You can also read answers to Morell's questions posted online. Write a short essay about what people think about extinction. Are humans to blame? What can and should we do to prevent further extinctions? Does everyone agree on the answers to these questions?

Parents: Your children will probably be concerned about the fate of endangered species. Help them learn how they can get involved in keeping these animals from becoming extinct. Younger children can be taught about simple things that they can do to help the environment (e.g., recycling, saving electricity). Older children may want to volunteer for a local environmental nonprofit organization. Some suggestions for all ages about how to get involved are available at ThinkQuest.