Year 7 Science · Unit 1 · Lesson 19
Apply Worksheet
Learning Goals
Order the steps
Number the events from 1 to 6 to show the correct order for a captive breeding and release program. Event 1 = what happens first.
| Order | Event |
|---|---|
| Habitat is restored and made safe from key threats (e.g. predators, disease) | |
| Individuals are captured from the wild to start a breeding program | |
| Captive-bred animals are released back into the wild or onto fenced reserves | |
| Offspring are born in the controlled environment and raised by keepers | |
| Species is assessed as critically endangered — wild population cannot sustain itself | |
| Disease screening and genetic diversity are monitored to keep the population healthy |
Read the graph — Tasmanian devil population
Study the graph below showing estimated Tasmanian devil population numbers over time, then answer the questions.
Data: Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, DPIPWE Tasmania (2022 estimates)
(a) In which time period did the Tasmanian devil population decline most rapidly? Use specific years and numbers from the graph in your answer.
(b) Describe what happened to the population after 2016. What does this suggest about the captive breeding program?
(c) Explain why captive breeding was a critical part of the Tasmanian devil recovery, rather than just protecting their habitat in national parks.
1. Describe one trade-off (a strength AND a weakness) of using captive breeding as a conservation strategy. Use a specific example from the lesson.
2. Why is protecting a habitat in a national park not always enough to stop a species from going extinct? Refer to at least one specific example or threat from the lesson.
Wrap Up
In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?