AFTER A LONG DAY AT SCHOOL, JC'S WALKING BY A DEVELOPING NEIGHBOURHOOD ...

Another tree gone.

Sigh! I’m home.

Come in son.
Your dad needs
a hand in packing
for tomorrow’s
camping trip.

JC PREPARES FOR THE TRIP... JUST BEFORE JC DOZES OFF...

Oho…I must not forget the

gizmo. They would be handy to
sneak around on the
animals.

CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 121

EARLY NEXT MORNING, JC AND DAD SET OFF ON THE TRIP...

The last time I was

here, there were so
many trees, and now it’s Oh! Why have these
all concrete! trees gone, dad?

JC, these trees have been cut down to have land for
other purposes such as farming and housing people. You
see, our town is expanding! We also need trees to build
houses, make furniture and paper, and serve as fuel.
Cutting down of trees for human purposes is called DEFORESTATION
DEFORESTATION.

But then there will

be no trees left!

122 CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS

DESERTIFICATION
True JC. And this
deforestation will increase
the temperature and
pollution. This may reduce
rainfall and cause Hang on; didn’t you say
droughts. Soon, all fertile there will be less rainfall?
land will turn into deserts.
This is called
DESERTIFICATION. It
may also lead to frequent
floods.

Good question, JC. As we cut trees,

we lose the top fertile layer of soil,
which leads to soil erosion. The lower
rocky layer cannot retain water. Sheesh! So many problems...

Not just these...Who can ignore

global warming and pollution? It’s
a mess, I tell you.

JC BEGINS TO THINK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS HE MAY HAVE TO FACE IN THE FUTURE...

Phew! Boy,
that’s scary!

CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 123

AFTER A LONG DRIVE, THEY REACH THE SANCTUARY...

Rules, huh! We'll

look at them
shortly.

124 CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS

 Boy! I am tired Dad, I’m not tired.
from all this Can I check out the
driving! I need area a bit?
some rest.

Ok, but no mischief

and stay close by!

IT'S TIME TO EXPLORE...

This is so coooool…I
bet there are some
animals behind those
trees.

Come out, you

chicken hearts.

Ouch! Watch out,

you silly boy. This is
our kingdom. You
cannot harm us here.

Oh yeah!
Says who?

CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 125

 SAY WE!!

Get out before you do any more

damage to our lovely ecosystem.

Errr…ecosystem?

Look around, boy. We, the plants, birds, animals, and invisible
microorganisms form the ecosystem along with the earth, air and
water. We all live here in harmony. And YOU disturb that.

DR. O KNOWS...
An ecosystem is made of living
components like plants, animals
and microorganisms in an area
along with non-living
components such as climate,
soil, river deltas, etc.

126 CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS

 DR. O KNOWS...

Yoo-hoo!!!

Biosphere

• Biosphere is that part of the earth in which living

organisms exist or which supports life.

• Biological diversity or biodiversity refers to the

variety of organisms existing on the earth, their
interrelationships and their relationship with the
environment.

THE SQUIRRELS TAKE A WALK IN THE SANCTUARY...

Dude, this park is special. There

are some special animals and
plants which you will not find Endemic?
anywhere else. They are endemic
to this area.

You know, some species of plants

and animals are unique to a
particular area. Be careful,
there’s a tiger den ahead. No problem. I
can be a tiger
too!
JC TURNS I
NTO A TIGE
R..

CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 127

 This should do the
trick then.

JC TURNS INTO A DEER... JC TURNS INTO A SQUIRREL...

Wow! That's cool! Can You rock, dude. You

you do that again? are one of us now.

Look, I am really sorry about all

this. But if you can show me
around, then I will understand
the things better.

Grrroowwllll...
Can we trust
Let's give
this human?
them a chance.

128 CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS

 Who’s there?

It’s me and JC.

Didn’t I tell
you to stay
away?

Please trust me. I mean no harm.

I just wanted to see the cubs.

Actually, there is always the fear

of poachers, so I am very scared
for my cubs.

But this is a sanctuary.

You are protected from
poachers here.

Well, not always. There are

always some bad people.

I can see your point. I will be

more careful in the future.

DR. O KNOWS..
.

A sanctuary is an area where animals are protected

from any disturbance to them and their habitat.

CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 129

 I have always wondered, what is the difference between a
sanctuary, biosphere reserve and a national park?

That's simple! National parks are areas reserved for wild

life where they can freely use the habitats and natural
resources. And a biosphere reserve is a form of
protection of the uniqueness of the area.

As in?

As in when you reserve large areas of

protected land for conservation of wild life, They all have the
same goal though, Obviously. Look,
plant and animal resources and traditional
don’t they? what’s happening
life of the tribals living in the area. Get it?
Protection of animals. to animals these
days. Humans
are poaching and
capturing them.
The tigers today
are almost gone
from India, the
Eh, kind of. home
of tigers!

Hey how do these human beings

I know. I heard they have
keep a tab on endangered and
become an endangered
extinct species? Considering
species now. No wonder
the rate at which they
Mr. Tiger is so suspicious.
are killing them.

There is this book called a Red Data Book. It keeps a record of all the
endangered plants and animals.

130 CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS

 DR. O KNOWS...
Hey, doesn’t this inter-species
Animals whose dance bother you?
numbers are
diminishing to
a level that they
might face
extinction are
known as the
endangered Not really. What
animals. is species anyway?

Species is a group of populations which are able

to reproduce offspring only with the members of
the same species. Members of a species
have common characteristics.

Thanks bro, but now

I've got to go! My dad
must be frantic by now!

LK, JC RETURNS TO THE TENT...

AFTER A LONG WA
Eh! I was just checking
out the flora and fauna...

JC, where were you so long?

Come quickly. I want to show
you some birds.

CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 131

 Flora and fauna! Wisened
up, haven’t you! I always get
confused between them.

Dad! Shame on you!

Flora refers to the plants
and fauna to the animals.

Wow! Dad, what

are those birds?
The Siberian crane come
from Siberia to avoid That’s a long distance.
the winter there. Do they go back again?

Yes, they do that every year.

They are beautiful.
That’s why they are
We should have more forest for
called migratory birds.
them and the other animals.
But with forests vanishing,
I wonder how long they
will keep coming back!

132 CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS

DR. O KNOWS...
Migration is a phenomena of the
movement of animals from their
own habitat to another habitat for
a particular time period every year.

This change in habitat occurs in

response to a change in climate,
the need for food or breeding.

That’s a good idea.

How can you do
that JC? Well, we should try not
to cut trees. And to
compensate for the ones
that are already cut, we
That's called should plant more trees.
REFORESTATION, the
restocking of trees that
have been destroyed in As in?
deforestation. But we also
need land for housing and
farming. Keeping a balance
is the key for that.

We should take whatever is

absolutely necessary and we
should always try to give back.
Also, we can recycle to reduce
the use of natural resources.

CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 133

 What can we
recycle?
You can easily
recycle paper JC.
That will reduce
trees being cut down
for making paper. Do
you know it takes 17
fully grown trees to What about
make 1 tonne of plastics dad?
paper? Imagine, how They too can
much recycling can be recycled.
save trees. You can
also recycle metals,
glass, water...

Only a few types of plastic can

be recycled. Also, they do not
degrade naturally. That's why
they are a big threat to nature.

Well…I am rather
hungry now. What
about you JC?

Me too, dad.

So let’s make
some dinner
before it gets
really dark.
Sure thing, Dad! A delicious
ending to a delightful day!

134 CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS

 Clearing of forests and using that land for other purposes is called deforestation.

F PLANT
The increase in temperature O S The conversion of fertile
on the earth disturbs the N land into deserts is called

ERVATIO

AN
water cycle and may reduce desertification.
rainfall and cause droughts.

D ANIM
NS

A
LS
CO
Biodiversity refers to the Plants and animals of
SANCTUARY: Areas where animals
variety of living organisms a particular area are
are protected from any disturbance
in a specific area. known as the flora
to them and their habitat.
and fauna of that area.
NATIONAL PARK: Areas reserved for
wild life where they can freely use
the habitats and natural resources.

BIOSPHERE RESERVE: Large areas

Animals whose numbers
are diminishing to a level
that they might face
extinction are known as
the endangered animals.
of protected land for conservation of
wildlife, plant and animal resources
and traditional life of the tribals living Endemic species are
in the area. those species of plants
and animals which are
found exclusively
Red data book in a particular area.
is the source book
which keeps a record
of all the endangered
animals and plants.

Migration is the phenomenon An ecosystem is made of all the

of movement of a species from plants, animals and microorganisms
its own habitat to some other in an area along with non-living
habitat for a particular time period We should components such as climate, soil,
every year for a specific purpose save, reuse river
er deltas, etc.
like breeding. Birds who cover long and recycle
distances to reach another land are paper to
known as migratory birds. save trees,
energy and
water.

Reforestation is the restocking of destroyed forests by planting new trees.

CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 135

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