Some villagers were unhappy that their herds of goats were steadily decreasing in numbers. A boy said that he had seen a tiger near their village one day. So the villagers headed out to hunt and kill as many tigers as they could find. After having killed several tigers for over a year, the villagers found that the number of goats were still decreasing. There was also a sudden increase in the number of monkeys that entered their village. The villagers had killed the wrong animal. Which of the following shows the impact of the villagers' action?
The population of the unknown predator increased.
The tiger population went down and became endangered.
The monkey population increased to unmanageable levels.

Options

A. (i) only
B. (ii) only
C. (iii) only
D. (i), (ii) and (iii)

Answer

To analyze the situation described in the question, we can break down the events and their consequences step by step:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Observation of Goat Population Decline**: The villagers noticed that their herds of goats were steadily decreasing in numbers. This indicates a potential issue with predation or other environmental factors affecting the goat population.

**Hint**: Consider what could be causing the decrease in the goat population.

2. **Assumption of Tiger as the Predator**: A boy claimed to have seen a tiger near the village, leading the villagers to believe that the tiger was responsible for the decline in goat numbers. This assumption prompted them to take action against the tiger.

**Hint**: Think about how assumptions can lead to decisions that may not address the actual problem.

3. **Hunting Tigers**: The villagers decided to hunt and kill as many tigers as they could find, believing this would solve their goat problem. They continued this for over a year.

**Hint**: Reflect on the consequences of removing a predator from an ecosystem.

4. **Continued Decline of Goats**: Despite killing several tigers, the villagers observed that the number of goats continued to decrease. This suggests that the tigers were not the primary threat to the goats.

**Hint**: What might be the reason for the goats still declining if tigers were not the main issue?

5. **Increase in Monkey Population**: After the tigers were killed, the villagers noticed a sudden increase in the number of monkeys entering their village. This indicates that the ecological balance was disrupted.

**Hint**: Consider the role of predators in controlling other animal populations.

6. **Conclusion of Villagers' Actions**: The villagers realized that they had killed the wrong animal. The removal of tigers led to an increase in the monkey population, which may have contributed to the decline of the goats, as monkeys can also compete for resources or even prey on young goats.

**Hint**: What are the broader ecological impacts of removing a top predator like the tiger?

### Final Answer:
The impact of the villagers' actions includes:
- The population of the unknown predator (monkeys) increased.
- The tiger population went down and became endangered.
- The monkey population increased to unmanageable levels.

Thus, all three options reflect the consequences of the villagers' decision to hunt tigers without understanding the ecosystem dynamics.