Lesson plan:

View The Beast

After viewing the episode ask students in small groups to discuss and list the issues it raises. Discuss as a class students' responses to these issues.

Discuss the issues

Discuss the problems associated with introducing alien species into an established ecosystem. Some effects may be direct, such as an introduced animal preying on a native species which hasn't developed any protective mechanisms appropriate to the new species. Other effects may be indirect such as the new species taking over the food supply of a native species.

Research an introduced animal

As a class list as many examples of feral animals in Australia as possible, eg. goats, donkeys, camels, water buffalo, cats, foxes, pigs, deer and rabbits. Divide students into groups and allocate each group one animal to research and report on. Their research should cover:

• reasons for the introduction of the species
• its geographical spread
• its impact on the environment, other fauna and agriculture
• attempts to deal with the problem.

Encourage students to contact organisations such as government departments responsible for agriculture or the environment and the Australian Conservation Foundation, as well as using the library. Reports could be presented in the form of charts, written material, oral presentation or a combination of both.

Conduct a debate

Considering the issue of feral animals raises issues about how we view the actions of people in the past. Debate the proposition that early settlers were irresponsible in introducing new species to Australia.

Create solutions to the problem

Ask students in groups to develop suggestions for controlling domestic animals in such a way that they do not become an environmental problem, such as the feral cat in this episode is. Students could inquire about existing local government by-laws and study these critically. They might put forward their suggestions for improvement to the appropriate body.