Breaking News English

Animals face many [dangerous / dangers] in their daily lives. These include climate change, habitat loss, and [pollutes / pollution] . Mayors in Germany have highlighted a new danger – robot lawn mowers. These are the small machines that automatically [go / grow] up and down people's gardens to cut [the / a] grass. German mayors say the [device / devices] are killing hedgehogs and other small animals, especially [at / in] night. The cities of Munich and Cologne have started a night-time ban [in / on] the use of the lawn mowers. However, officials want a nationwide [bin / ban] . Hedgehogs are particularly at risk. They curl up [into / onto] a ball when they sense danger. This makes it more difficult for a robot mower's sensors [for / to] detect a curled-up hedgehog.

Hedgehogs are protected [under / over] German law. People who injure, trap, or kill them could get a fine of [up / down] to €65,000 ($75,000). The animals have been on the "near threatened" [lost / list] of the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2024. This is because their numbers [drops / dropped] by over 30 per cent in the [previous / previously] decade. Mayor Claudia Kalisch has [answered / asked] lawn mower makers to do more to protect hedgehogs. She said: "We are [calling / call] on manufacturers to find solutions to [sure / ensure] that small animals are no longer endangered by robot lawn mowers." She added: "This is a key [stair / step] towards protecting animals and enriching the quality of [life / live] in the city through biodiversity."