максимум соотнести тексты и заголовки 1. beware of rabbits 2. exotic pets 3. saving animals 4. teaching and entertaining 5. protecting pets 6. tender pets 7. what’s in a name? 8. contribution to science a. little is known for certain about how guinea pigs were first introduced to europe and north america as a domestic pet, but they most probably came during the 16th century. holland, portugal and spain had colonies in south america, and the explorers brought to europe gold and precious gems, along with other unusual and exciting finds. colourful parrots became very popular status symbols in the homes of the wealthy, and with them came the guinea pig and other animals previously unknown in europe. b. many species of wild animals are in danger of complete extinction. this is usually due to loss of habitat as a result of human expansion, or it could be due to excessive hunting. a_ good, modern zoo has a valuable role to play in assisting with the protection of endangered species. this is both through education of the general public in the importance of conservation in general and through breeding programmes to increase the population of endangered species in captivity and then reintroduce them into the wild. c. the guinea pig is today one of the world’s most popular pets, ranking only a little way behind the rabbit. though called guinea pigs, these animals are not pigs, nor do they come from guinea. why guinea then? some say they could have originally changed hands at the cost of a guinea (twenty-one shillings – very expensive they as for the “pig”, an explanation is much easier to guess – they run and squeal much as little piglets do! d. rabbits are one of the most popular pets to keep due to their affectionate nature and love of cuddles. to show they are happy, they often grind their teeth softly when being petted, similar to cats purring. in general, rabbits are timid and non-aggressive and sociable with each other. with gentle handling they are generally quite tame. they are playful and entertaining to watch, but they need a great deal of interaction with their owners. their cage should be relatively big, but they need some playtime outside it as well. e. for a long time guinea pigs were used as experimental animals. in 1890, the antitoxin for diphtheria was discovered using guinea pigs in the research, and as a result, the lives of millions of children have been saved. in 1907, vitamin c was discovered due to guinea pigs. like humans they cannot produce the vitamin and need it supplied in their diet. the guinea pig’s wide variety of hair types and colours has also made them a prime choice for studies of genetics and heredity. later, they have been replaced by rats and mice. f. security at denver international airport tries to protect cars from vandalism and theft, but there’s a new threat at its expansive parking lot. ravenous rabbits. the animals are causing hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars in damage to cars by devouring the wires under the hood. at least 100 rabbits are removed every month, but the problem persists. the airport is surrounded by prairie, and the rabbits are seeking warmth and food in the parked vehicles. g. our mission at wild adventures zoo is to bring family entertainment back to las vegas, in an educational manner. teaching respect for animals through hands on applications, workshops and conservation efforts, as well as helping injured and abandoned wildlife and exotic pets, is the reason wild adventures zoo was created. our focus is on educating the public through fun and exciting activities that allow them to interact with the animals.