Which animal should be protected ?

Options

A. Harmless
B. Economically useful
C. Likely to perish
D. Ferocious.

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Options**: The question asks which animals should be protected, and it provides four options: harmless, economically useful, likely to perish, and ferocious.

2. **Defining Each Option**:
- **Harmless Animals**: These are typically pets or non-threatening species, such as dogs, cats, and rabbits. While they are important, they are not necessarily at risk of extinction.
- **Economically Useful Animals**: This category includes animals that provide economic benefits to humans, such as goats, sheep, and cows. Protecting them is important for agriculture and economy, but they are not endangered.
- **Likely to Perish**: This refers to animals that are at risk of extinction due to low population numbers. Examples include the Asian elephant, red panda, and leopards. These animals are critical to protect because their loss would mean a significant decrease in biodiversity.
- **Ferocious Animals**: These are wild and potentially dangerous animals like lions, tigers, and cheetahs. While they play an important role in their ecosystems, they are not necessarily in immediate danger of extinction.

3. **Evaluating the Importance of Protection**: While all animals have their own importance, the focus of conservation efforts is often on those that are endangered or likely to perish. Protecting these animals helps maintain biodiversity and the health of ecosystems.

4. **Conclusion**: Based on the definitions and the importance of protecting biodiversity, the most critical group to protect from the options given is the "likely to perish" category. These animals are at immediate risk and require conservation efforts to prevent their extinction.

**Final Answer**: The animals that should be protected are those that are "likely to perish."

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