This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of the value of resources for protecting wild animals and birds from the real IELTS exam.

Be sure to check out some of my other resources here:

Patreon Ebooks

IELTS Discuss both Sides Questions

Dave

IELTS Essay: Resources for Protecting Wild Animals and Birds

Some people claim that too much focus and resources have been spent to protect wild animals and birds.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many today would argue that there is undue emphasis on the safeguarding of various species of wild animals and birds. In my opinion, though there are legitimate practical objections, it is a positive overall given the potential impact of abandoning such efforts.

Opponents of current conservation initiatives argue they are an unnecessary waste of valuable resources. The natural development of ecosystems involves animals going extinct and fighting for survival. Human intervention can therefore be seen as unnatural to a certain degree as animals that adapt will flourish and others will become obsolete. Added to this is the economic burden. The majority of endangered animals are in developing nations in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. National governments in these countries have a variety of other concerns related to healthcare, education, employment, and so on that take precedence over animal populations.

However, humans should protect animals as their disappearance is irreversible. The issue of responsibility is not, to my mind, a compelling enough argument as blame can be assigned in a number of directions and is too self-righteous to be persuasive. Instead, it can be argued that permanent damage to the Earth will impact future generations. The Earth depends on biodiversity not only for the development of new medicines and the functioning of a healthy food chain but also in order to showcase its varied expressions of life. As the only known home to life in the universe, it would be short-sighted to eliminate species of animals and damage this reputation.

In conclusion, despite the financial cost, it is essential to protect wild animals which may go extinct. Governments must sometimes prioritize the future over short-term considerations.

Analysis

1. Many today would argue that there is undue emphasis on the safeguarding of various species of wild animals and birds. 2. In my opinion, though there are legitimate practical objections, it is a positive overall given the potential impact of abandoning such efforts.

Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Opponents of current conservation initiatives argue they are an unnecessary waste of valuable resources. 2. The natural development of ecosystems involves animals going extinct and fighting for survival. 3. Human intervention can therefore be seen as unnatural to a certain degree as animals that adapt will flourish and others will become obsolete. 4. Added to this is the economic burden. 5. The majority of endangered animals are in developing nations in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. 6. National governments in these countries have a variety of other concerns related to healthcare, education, employment, and so on that take precedence over animal populations.

Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
Explain your main idea.
Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
Keep developing it fully.
Use short and long sentences.
Finish strong.

1. However, humans should protect animals as their disappearance is irreversible. 2. The issue of responsibility is not, to my mind, a compelling enough argument as blame can be assigned in a number of directions and is too self-righteous to be persuasive. 3. Instead, it can be argued that permanent damage to the Earth will impact future generations. 4. The Earth depends on biodiversity not only for the development of new medicines and the functioning of a healthy food chain but also in order to showcase its varied expressions of life. 5. As the only known home to life in the universe, it would be short-sighted to eliminate species of animals and damage this reputation.

Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
Explain your new main idea.
Include specific details and examples.
Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
Develop the example fully.

1. In conclusion, despite the financial cost, it is essential to protect wild animals which may go extinct. 2. Governments must sometimes prioritize the future over short-term considerations.

Summarise your main ideas.
Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Many today would argue that there is undue emphasis on the safeguarding of various species of wild animals and birds. In my opinion, though there are legitimate practical objections, it is a positive overall given the potential impact of abandoning such efforts.

Opponents of current conservation initiatives argue they are an unnecessary waste of valuable resources. The natural development of ecosystems involves animals going extinct and fighting for survival. Human intervention can therefore be seen as unnatural to a certain degree as animals that adapt will flourish and others will become obsolete. Added to this is the economic burden. The majority of endangered animals are in developing nations in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. National governments in these countries have a variety of other concerns related to healthcare, education, employment, and so on that take precedence over animal populations.

However, humans should protect animals as their disappearance is irreversible. The issue of responsibility is not, to my mind, a compelling enough argument as blame can be assigned in a number of directions and is too self-righteous to be persuasive. Instead, it can be argued that permanent damage to the Earth will impact future generations. The Earth depends on biodiversity not only for the development of new medicines and the functioning of a healthy food chain but also in order to showcase its varied expressions of life. As the only known home to life in the universe, it would be short-sighted to eliminate species of animals and damage this reputation.

In conclusion, despite the financial cost, it is essential to protect wild animals which may go extinct. Governments must sometimes prioritize the future over short-term considerations.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

argue claim

undue emphasis too much focus

safeguarding protecting

various species different animals

wild animals not domesticated like cats and dogs

legitimate practical objections real actual criticisms

positive overall good in general

given considering

potential impact possible effect

abandoning not helping

efforts attempts

opponents people against them

current conservation initiatives right now trying to save animals

unnecessary waste of valuable resources not needed wasting money

natural related to nature, organic

ecosystems how plants and animals interact and live together

going extinct not longer exist

fighting for survival trying to live

human intervention people stepping in to help

unnatural not normal

to a certain degree somewhat

adapt change

flourish do really well

obsolete no longer needed

added to this is the economic burden there is also the financial pressure

majority most of

endangered animals animals that are on the verge of extinction

developing nations countries getting better

national governments countries and the authorities

variety kinds of

concerns worries

related to concerning

healthcare hospitals and doctors

education schools

employment jobs

and so on etc.

take precedence over more important than

populations how many are alive

protect safeguard

disappearance absent

irreversible can’t be fixed

responsibility duty

to my mind in my opinion

compelling enough argument good claim for

blame responsibility for it

assigned in a number of directions given out different places

self-righteous full of themselves

persuasive convincing

permanent damage the effect will last forever

impact future generations affect the future

depends on relies on

biodiversity different plants and animals

new medicines new drugs

functioning of a healthy food chain good interactions between animals

showcase show off

varied expressions different ways

only known home only place they live

short-sighted not looking to the future

eliminate get rid of

damage hurt

reputation what people think about it

despite regardless of

financial cost money

essential crucial

prioritize better than

future looking forward to later on

short-term considerations only thinking about now

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ˈɑːgjuː
ʌnˈdjuː ˈɛmfəsɪs
ˈseɪfgɑːdɪŋ
ˈveərɪəs ˈspiːʃiːz
waɪld ˈænɪməlz
lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt ˈpræktɪkəl əbˈʤɛkʃənz
ˈpɒzətɪv ˈəʊvərɔːl
ˈgɪvn
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈɪmpækt
əˈbændənɪŋ
ˈɛfəts
əˈpəʊnənts
ˈkʌrənt ˌkɒnsə(ː)ˈveɪʃən ɪˈnɪʃɪətɪvz
ʌnˈnɛsɪsəri weɪst ɒv ˈvæljʊəbl rɪˈsɔːsɪz
ˈnæʧrəl
ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəmz
ˈgəʊɪŋ ɪksˈtɪŋkt
ˈfaɪtɪŋ fɔː səˈvaɪvəl
ˈhjuːmən ˌɪntə(ː)ˈvɛnʃən
ʌnˈnæʧrəl
tuː ə ˈsɜːtn dɪˈgriː
əˈdæpt
ˈflʌrɪʃ
ˈɒbsəliːt
ˈædɪd tuː ðɪs ɪz ði ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈbɜːdn
məˈʤɒrɪti
ɪnˈdeɪnʤəd ˈænɪməlz
dɪˈvɛləpɪŋ ˈneɪʃənz
ˈnæʃənl ˈgʌvnmənts
vəˈraɪəti
kənˈsɜːnz
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː
ˈhɛlθkeə
ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃən
ɪmˈplɔɪmənt
ænd səʊ ɒn
teɪk pri(ː)ˈsiːdəns ˈəʊvə
ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃənz
prəˈtɛkt
ˌdɪsəˈpɪərəns
ˌɪrɪˈvɜːsəbl
rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti
tuː maɪ maɪnd
kəmˈpɛlɪŋ ɪˈnʌf ˈɑːgjʊmənt
bleɪm
əˈsaɪnd ɪn ə ˈnʌmbər ɒv dɪˈrɛkʃənz
sɛlf-ˈraɪʧəs
pəˈsweɪsɪv
ˈpɜːmənənt ˈdæmɪʤ
ˈɪmpækt ˈfjuːʧə ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃənz
dɪˈpɛndz ɒn
ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsɪti
njuː ˈmɛdsɪnz
ˈfʌŋkʃənɪŋ ɒv ə ˈhɛlθi fuːd ʧeɪn
ˈʃəʊkeɪs
ˈveərɪd ɪksˈprɛʃənz
ˈəʊnli nəʊn həʊm
ʃɔːt-ˈsaɪtɪd
ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt
ˈdæmɪʤ
ˌrɛpju(ː)ˈteɪʃən
dɪsˈpaɪt
faɪˈnænʃəl kɒst
ɪˈsɛnʃəl
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz
ˈfjuːʧə
ʃɔːt-tɜːm kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃənz

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

Many today would a_____e that there is u___________________s on the s_________________g of v_______________s of w________________s and birds. In my opinion, though there are l________________________s, it is a p__________________n the p_______________t of a_____________g such e______s.

O____________s of c___________________________s argue they are an u___________________________________s. The n_______l development of e__________s involves animals g______________t and f________________________l. H________________n can therefore be seen as u__________l t_____________________e as animals that a_______t will f________h and others will become o_________e. A________________________________n. The m________y of e______________________s are in d__________________s in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. N______________________s in these countries have a v______y of other c_______s r______________o h____________e, e__________n, e_____________t, a___________n that t_________________________r animal p____________s.

However, humans should p_______t animals as their d________________e is i_______________e. The issue of r________________y is not, t_______________d, a c____________________________t as b_____e can be a_______________________________s and is too s_____________s to be p_________e. Instead, it can be argued that p_________________e to the Earth will i_________________________s. The Earth d_________________________y not only for the development of n______________s and the f______________________________n but also in order to s____________e its v_________________s of life. As the o___________________________e to life in the universe, it would be s______________d to e_________e species of animals and d__________e this r____________n.

In conclusion, d_______e the f________________t, it is e____________l to protect wild animals which may go extinct. Governments must sometimes p__________e the f__________e over s________________________s.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.worldwildlife.org/initiatives/wildlife-conservation

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Animals

What was your favorite animal as a child?
Do people in your country keep pets?
What kind of pet would you not like to have?
Is environmental protection important?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Many wild birds and animals live in towns and cities. Some people think that the wildlife should be protected. Some think that they should be removed.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

IELTS Essay: Wild Animals in Urban Areas