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Shepherd József Rácz and his sons take care of 500 sheep in the mountains of Romania.
József loses about five or six sheep each year to wolves or bears. To guard them, he keeps 17 dogs. József says a good dog is the best tool to protect his livestock.
On Tuesday, the strict protection of grey wolves in Europe ended after 45 years, and new rules for the EU started. Grey wolves will be moved from Annex II (strictly protected) to Annex III (protected) of the Bern Convention. This means many safeguards for the wolves will be removed.
Starting in March next year, each EU country can set a yearly quota of wolves to kill. The EU said that the number of wolves has nearly doubled, from 11,000 in 2012 to over 20,000 today. The EU says wolves cause too much damage to livestock.
The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) said this decision is “extremely disappointing“. WWF said that weakening protection could hurt the wolves’ recovery. Wildlife activists say farmers should have trained sheepdogs instead of removing safeguards for wolves. They also say wolves help control the numbers of deer and wild boar, which damage crops and trees. Wolves also prevent the spread of diseases by eating sick animals.
A 2023 EU report found that wolves kill about 50,000 of Europe’s 68 million sheep and goats each year. This is only 0.065% of the total. There have been no fatal wolf attacks on humans for 40 years.
The head of Luxembourg’s Wildlife department said Europe should protect wolves just like other countries protect their wildlife.
Vocabulary
- Shepherd – A person who takes care of sheep;
- Sheep – 🐑; a fluffy white or gray animal
- Guard – To watch over and protect something; to keep safe
- Tool – a thing used to help do a job; a device with a specific function; instrument; equipment
- Protect – To keep something safe; to defend something
- Livestock – horses, cows, sheep, etc. kept or raised on a farm; farm animals
- Strict – severe; harsh; no flexibility; exact; strong
- Protection – Keeping something safe from harm; something that keeps you safe from harm/danger
- Rule – A guideline or regulation; sometimes a law; A guide that tells us what we should or shouldn’t do
- The European Union (EU) – 27 countries in Europe that work closely together
- Safeguard – A measure/rule to keep something safe; Something that protects
- Remove – to take out; to take away from; take off; to lift; to end
- Set – To decide or arrange something;
- Yearly – every year
- Quota – A limit on the amount of something; A set number or amount
- Double – two times more; 2x; 100% more
- Cause – make something (usually bad) happen; create
- Decision – a choice that you make about something after thinking about several possibilities/options; choice; ruling;
- Disappointing – Making someone feel sad or unhappy; Not as good as expected
- Weaken – to make something less strong or less powerful; to make weak
- Recovery – The process of getting better; Getting better after a problem
- Wildlife – Animals and plants that live in nature, not in cities or homes
- Activist – Someone who tries to make changes in the world;
- Train – To teach; to educate
- Sheepdog – A dog trained to help herd/move sheep
- Crop – any type of plant that is grown to use as food
- Prevent – to stop; to keep from happening; to put an end to
- Spread – When something moves from one place to another; how a sickness/disease jumps from one person to another.
- Disease – illness; sickness; disorder; something that attacks the body
- Find – realize; learn; discover;
- Million – 1,000,000 = one-million
- Fatal – Something that results in death; Causing death
- Head – leader, top person, boss
- Department – A division/section/area of a government or organization
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- Do you think it’s fair to kill wolves to protect livestock? Why or why not?
- Why do some people think it’s important to protect wolves?
- How can we help farmers and wolves live peacefully together?
- What would you do if you were a farmer and wolves were threatening your livestock?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Shepherd József Rácz and _____ sons take care of 500 sheep in the mountains of _____.
József loses about five or _____ sheep each year to wolves or bears. To guard them, he keeps _____ dogs. József says a good dog is the best tool to _____ his livestock.
On Tuesday, the strict protection of _____ wolves in Europe ended after 45 years, and new _____ for the EU started. Grey wolves will be _____ from Annex II (strictly protected) to Annex III (protected) of the Bern Convention. _____ means many safeguards for the wolves will be removed.
_____ in March next year, each EU country can set a yearly quota of wolves to _____. The EU said that the number of wolves has nearly doubled, from _____ in 2012 to over 20,000 today. The EU says wolves cause too much _____ to livestock.
The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) said this decision _____ “extremely disappointing”. WWF said that weakening protection could _____ the wolves’ recovery. Wildlife activists say farmers should have _____ sheepdogs instead of removing safeguards _____ wolves. They also say wolves help control the numbers of deer and _____ boar, which damage crops and trees. Wolves also prevent the spread of diseases by _____ sick animals.
A 2023 EU report found that wolves _____ about 50,000 of Europe’s 68 million sheep and _____ each year. This is only 0.065% of the _____. There have been no fatal wolf attacks on humans for _____ years.
The head of Luxembourg’s _____ department said Europe should protect wolves just like other _____ protect their wildlife.
