Middle Island is a dangerous place for Little Penguins (企鹅), the smallest of the penguin species. At low tide (潮汐), it becomes     1     (access) to an introduced species, the European red fox, with disastrous consequences. 30 years ago, Middle Island was home to thousands of penguins, but by the late 90's that number     2     (fall) by half and in 2005 there was only four birds left.

So, Allan Marsh, a local chicken farmer, advised     3     (use) Maremma sheep dogs to protect the penguins. "The whole idea was taking an off-the-wall type farming practice of having Maremmas protecting your livestock (家畜) and transposing them on an island where penguins were being     4     (constant) attacked by foxes,"   Marsh said.

Maremmas have been protecting animals for centuries. Unlike most trained animals, Maremmas do not pose a threat to livestock     5     fit in with them, forming social bonds.

The City Council approved     6     idea and Marsh camped on the island with his Maremma, Oddball, for the first week during the month-long trial,     7     turned out to be a huge success. The     8     (present) of the dog kept foxes from going onto the island.

More livestock guardian dogs     9     (send) in to Middle Island ever since. They take great trouble     10     (protect) penguins and the penguin population continues to climb.

With their long tusks, elephants look elegant and strong. However, this unique feature is also the reason for     1     the animal is endangered. It has long been a problem worldwide that people kill elephants     2     their tusks.     3     laws have been introduced to ban the selling of tusks, they have not been enough to save the elephants.