READ AND FILL IN THE GAPS WITH TH RIGHT VERB TENSE

Baby gorillas being trafficked endangers species In recent months the Democratic Republic of Congo has seen (see) a surge in the number of baby gorillas being trafficked The Guardian newspaper in Britain recently reported. This is posing (POSE) a fresh risk to the endangered species wildlife officials have warned (WARN). The authorities in the country say (SAY) they are powerless to combat the trade in which poachers demand (DEMAND) up to US$40,000 (25,350 or 29,150) an animal. In an undercover sting operation recently made (MAKE) by the authorities the poachers demanded (DEMAND) this price. This has been (BE) a record year for the poachers who are trying (TRY) to feed a growing black market demand for baby gorillas. Mountain gorillas are critically endangered (CRITICALLY/ENDANGER), with about 790 remaining in the world - about 480 in the Virunga volcanoes conservation area (shared between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda) and just over 300 in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. Eastern lowland gorillas are (BE) more numerous but are (BE) largely outside protected areas and are still in decline. The baby gorilla trafficking is (BE) in the rebel controlled areas of eastern DRC. Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park said (SAY), We are powerless to control the international trade in baby gorillas, but our rangers are doing (DO) everything they can to stamp it out on the ground. T his year so far four trafficked baby gorillas have been saved (SAVE). Merode added(ADD), Its only the tip of an iceberg, as we can only manage to catch a small proportion of the offenders because the wildlife service is under-resourced in Congo. Christian Shamavu, leader of the sting operation: Its likely the mother and other gorillas were killed(KILL) because its very difficult to take a baby gorilla from its family. The poachers will never admit (ADMIT) this though. International experts believe (BELIEVE) the escape route for traffickers lies (LIE) east. Ian Redmond, chairman of the conservation group: We think the Middle East is a likely source of demand, wealthy animal collectors and a tradition of giving big gifts to curry favourand maybe wealthy Russians, but there is little hard evidence. He added, What we do know is that just the rumour that someone is looking (LOOK) to buy a baby ape can be enough for penniless hunters to think: I could (CAN) get one of those and sell (SELL) it for dollars and in eastern DRC, once one is captured (CAPTURE) it is likely to be smuggled eastwards through either Rwanda or Uganda, the traditional trade routes for all goods in that area.

decline trafficked surge gorillas poachers rebel sting species

GAP FILL: READING: Put the words into the gaps in the text. In recent months the Democratic Republic of Congo has seen a (1)_____ in the number of baby gorillas being (2)_____, The Guardian newspaper in Britain recently reported. This is posing a fresh risk to the endangered (3)_____ wildlife officials have warned. The authorities in the country say they are powerless to combat the trade in which poachers demand up to US$40,000 (25,350 or 29,150) an animal. In an undercover (4)_____ operation recently by the authorities the (5)_____ demanded this price. This has been a record year for the poachers who are trying to feed a growing black market demand for baby gorillas. Mountain gorillas are critically endangered, with about 790 remaining in the world about 480 in the Virunga volcanoes conservation area (shared between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda) and just over 300 in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. Eastern lowland (6)_____ species are more numerous but are largely outside protected areas and are still in (7)_____. The baby gorilla trafficking is in the (8)_____ controlled areas of eastern DRC. Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park said, We are powerless to control the international trade in baby gorillas, but our (1)_____ are doing everything they can to stamp it out on the ground. This year so far four trafficked baby gorillas have been saved. Merode added, Its only the (2)_____ of an (3)_____, as we can only manage to (4)____ a small proportion of the offenders because the (5)_____ service is under-resourced in Congo. Christian Shamavu, leader of the sting operation: Its likely the mother and other gorillas were killed because its very difficult to take a baby gorilla from its family. The poachers will never admit this though. International experts believe the escape route for traffickers lies east. Ian Redmond, chairman of the conservation group: We think the Middle East is a likely source of demand, (6)_____ animal collectors and a tradition of giving big gifts to (7)_____ favourand maybe wealthy Russians, but there is little hard (8)_____.

wildlife tip curry evidence catch rangers iceberg wealthy

ANSWERS
GAP FILL: Baby gorillas being trafficked endangers species: In recent months the Democratic Republic of Congo has seen a surge in the number of baby gorillas being trafficked The Guardian newspaper in Britain recently reported. This is posing a fresh risk to the endangered species wildlife officials have warned. The authorities in the country say they are powerless to combat the trade in which poachers demand up to US$40,000 (25,350 or 29,150) an animal. In an undercover sting operation recently by the authorities the poachers demanded this price. This has been a record year for the poachers who are trying to feed a growing black market demand for baby gorillas. Mountain gorillas are critically endangered, with about 790 remaining in the world - about 480 in the Virunga volcanoes conservation area (shared between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda) and just over 300 in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. Eastern lowland gorillas are more numerous but are largely outside protected areas and are still in decline. The baby gorilla trafficking is in the rebel controlled areas of eastern DRC. Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park said, We are powerless to control the international trade in baby gorillas, but our rangers are doing everything they can to stamp it out on the ground. This year so far four trafficked baby gorillas have been saved. Merode added, Its only the tip of an iceberg, as we can only manage to catch a small proportion of the offenders because the wildlife service is underresourced in Congo. Christian Shamavu, leader of the sting operation: Its likely the mother and other gorillas were killed because its very difficult to take a baby gorilla from its family. The poachers will never admit this though. Interna tional experts believe the escape route for traffickers lies east. Ian Redmond, chairman of the conservation group: We think the Middle East is a likely source of demand, wealthy animal collectors and a tradition of giving big gifts to curry favourand maybe wealthy Russians, but there is little hard evidence.