This is an exercise in essay writing. You will be given an essay topic and relevant facts. Your task is to use the given facts and outline the structure of an essay that would answer the topic question. You do not need to write a full essay. You only need to provide an introduction and the essay structure. Your essay structure needs: 1. A full introduction 2. To outline a heading for each new segment of the essay and a brief paragraph on what will be included in each segment The essay question is: Choose a species of animal that has recently been reclassified from the 'endangered' species category to the 'vulnerable' category. Outlines the characteristics of the species, the threats to the species and explain the importance of this species and the significance of the change in category. Your species is the snow leopard. You have been provided five fact sets to use in your essay outlines and one quote. Fact set 1: Vulnerable species - less than 10,000 mature individuals and the number is expected to decrease by 10% in the next ten year or through three generations. The risk of extinction moves from 'high risk' to 'very high risk' Endangered species - less than 2,500 mature individuals and the number is expected to decrease by 20% in the next five years or through two generations. Population: 4,080 to 6,590 snow leopards in the wild Environment: high mountain ranges Countries include: China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Mongolia. Fact set 2: Long tail provides balance, agility and warmth by curling around the body Main prey: blue sheep, Argali wild sheep, ibex, marmots, pikas and hares If necessary prey on livestock: sheep, goats and horses Can prey on animals three times larger than their own weight Can hunt in extremely challenging environments Fact set 3: Threats to the snow leopard population: Poachers Snow leopard pelt is worth a lot of money when traded illegally Bones, skin, organs used in traditional Asian medicine Herders Snow leopards prey on livestock, causes retaliation killing Local communities hunt Argali sheep - less prey for snow leopards Habitat loss and fragmentation Increased human settlement and grazing space More grazing space means less food for wild sheep and goats Less wild sheep and goats means less wild prey Less wild prey means more livestock prey Climate change - greatest long-term threat 20% decrease in snow leopard population over two decades Fact set 4: Presence of snow leopards indicate a healthy high altitude environment if snow leopards can survive Snow leopard survival means survival of other species Main predator - keeps the ecological balance in place Less snow leopards means more herbivores Could change the vegetation Environment provides resources to flora, fauna and human (water, food, shelter, medicine) Fact set 5: Reclassification may cause: less concern on conservation effort for the snow leopard Less government focus Quote: Dr. Tom McCarthy - on the I.U.C.N assessment team said that the reclassification did not mean "that snow leopards are 'safe' or that now is a time to celebrate. The species still faces 'a high risk of extinction in the wild' and is likely still declining just not at the rate previously thought."