EverestQuest-Social Studies Lesson Plan 4

Beasts of Burden

Learning Objective:
Describe the impact of technology on agricultural economies and cultures.

Teacher Directions:
Some animals are raised to become helpful to human beings, while others are simply helpful due to their natural behavior in the environment. Humans have invented machines and other technologies to replace these "beasts of burden" as well. Some may argue whether or not certain animals are helpful at all, or even harmful to humans. And others might argue that it is humans who are the most dangerous of all animals to other animals.

Listen to these descriptions of animals that can be found in Nepal. Then do some research on your own.

Horses and oxen are found in large numbers in Nepal and still do much to assist in agricultural development.

The fruit bats found in Nepal are helpful because they eat insects and pests.

Water buffalo and elephants are found in Nepal, but not near Mount Everest. Water buffalo love water and mud, so they stay in the southern and warmer part of Nepal. Elephants play an important role in Nepalese culture and also play the part of a bulldozer in many areas in Nepal. They too hate the cold, so they stay in the south.

Bears can be found all over Nepal, but they and other large mammals are becoming extinct outside of national parks due to hunting. Others species of bear are killed and sold to Hong Kong and China for a lot of money, so the population of these large wild mammals decreases drastically in the surrounding wild areas of Nepal.

Hawks, on the other hand, are still found in high numbers everywhere in Nepal. Pollution has hurt the hawks, but they still are found in high numbers in the country. Himalayan Lammergiers, which have seven-foot wingspans, are some of the largest hawks in Nepal.

Wild dogs are another species that is seen everywhere and often are carriers of Rabies. Sometimes they are released at night to keep thieves away from remote villages.

Yaks are used to carry gear, food and other supplies for long distances and at high altitudes. They are found near Mount Everest and on many Himalayan mountains, mosty because they can’t survive below 10,000 feet of elevation for any extended time. They are covered in thick wool that sheds often. Their wool is harvested, braided and used for tough wool fabric and even can be made into light soft spun wool.

Ravens are another species seen at high altitudes in the Himalayas. Sometimes these birds even sound like people and will act like they own everything they are near.

Monkeys are found in the warmer parts of Nepal.

Roosters also inhabit human environments. They live in wicker baskets in their owner’s house (so that foxes can’t get them).

Tropical bees live in nests and produce an expensive product. Because so much money can be made, people will take great risks to get the honey from their nests. People will hang from vines with long poles. The combs fall down onto the ground and are gathered and strained.

White bulls are the most sacred animal in Nepal and people don’t hurt these animals. In fact, few local people will even eat bull meat.

Use the Chart* to write your thoughts about each animal or other animals that you researched. In column one, write the name of the animal. In column two, write how the animal was raised to be helpful to humans or how the animal behaves naturally in the environment in a way that is helpful to humans. In column three, write about any inventions or technologies that you are aware of that have replaced the service the animal provided. In column four, write how humans affect the animal — either positively or negatively.