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Why
did the Antiguan racer almost disappear?
Species become extinct for many different reasons. Some, like the
dinosaurs, die as part of a natural extinction, in this case probably
a global climate change. However, humans are responsible for eradicating
species at a much faster rate than at any time in the Earth's history.
They are totally to blame for the disappearance of species such as
the dodo, the quagga and the passenger pigeon. |
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The Antiguan racer, as the project team
quickly discovered,
was being attacked on all sides. |
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snake's problems started with the arrival of introduced
species like the rat, the mongoose and the goat, brought to Antigua
by humans. |
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Battered to death: the corpse
of
an Antiguan racer, killed by
visitors to Great Bird Island |
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The four-legged invaders have
caused havoc ever since, but not as much as the humans
themselves, who have spent most of the last 500 years
destroying Antigua's natural habitats.
As if that isn't enough, the
racer also has to cope with natural
disasters such as flooding, drought and inbreeding.
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�Copyright 2001 The Wildscreen Trust, PO
Box 366, Bristol, United Kingdom BS99 2HD
Very Important Serpent | Treasure
Island | Mission Impossible
| Heroes | Villains
| Teachers' Centre |
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