Protected Species

Key Stage 4

Meaning

A protected species is a species of organism is protected from harm by caused by humans.

About Protected Species

A species may be protected because it is vital to an ecosystem. This can take the form of criminal punishment for anyone who harms a member of that species.

Some species need to be protected because some humans want to hunt them. This may be for sport or may be for the value of some of that species body parts. Elephant tusks are made of ivory which is very expensive so poachers try to kill the elephants to get that ivory. Rhinoceros horn and tiger bones are believed by some to have magical healing properties so poachers may kill them to sell their body parts.

A protected species is often also endangered so is in danger of extinction which would permanently reduce the biodiversity in an ecosystem.