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In sad news, Mali, a famous elephant at Manila Zoo in the Philippines, passed away on Tuesday. Mali was the star attraction for four decades at the zoo.
Animal rights activists were worried about Mali for many years. She had been the only elephant at the zoo since 1990 and lonely. Many people say the zoo’s conditions were poor and the zoo workers were not prepared to take care of an elephant.
Even famous musician Paul McCartney was worried about Mali. He asked authorities to move Mali out of the zoo to an elephant sanctuary for a better life. However, zoo workers said she couldn’t be moved because she is not used to living in the wild.
The mayor of Manila, Honey Lacuna, shared a video on Facebook about Mali’s death.
Mali’s health slowly got worse. Last Friday, people saw her rubbing her trunk on a wall. Elephants do this when they have pain.
Veterinarians tried helping the lonely elephant with medicine and vitamins, but they had no effect. After Mali’s death, veterinarians learned she had cancer and a problem with her heart.
Mali’s full name is Vishwa Ma’ali. She was a gift from the Sri Lanken government to the former first lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos, in 1981. At that time, the Manila Zoo had another elephant named Shiva who passed away in 1990.
Mayor Lacuna announced that she will request another elephant from the Sri Lanken government.
Vocabulary
- Famous – Many people know it; Well-known or admired by many people
- Pass away – to die; to stop living
- Star – a famous person; main actor in a show or movie; the best person; very famous
- Attraction – something that people can go to for interest or enjoyment; activity; feature
- Decade – 10 years; a 10-year period
- Animal rights activist – Someone who works to protect and help animals
- Lonely – Feeling alone or without friends
- Condition – state; shape; situation; the state/shape that something or someone is in with regard to its appearance, quality, or working order;
- Poor – not good; bad quality; unfavorable
- Take care of – To look after someone or something to make sure they are safe and healthy
- Musician – a person who plays a musical instrument or sings professionally; a person who makes music
- Authorities – a group of people or organization with official legal power to make decisions or protect the law, e.g., the police or a government department
- Sanctuary – A safe and protected place; A place where animals are protected and cared for
- Be used to – When you are familiar with or comfortable doing something because you have done it before
- Wild – Living in a natural state, not kept or controlled by humans; Not in a zoo or someone’s home, where animals live freely
- Mayor – the leader or person in charge of a city
- Share – to tell someone or people about something; to make public; to announce
- Death – when someone or something stops being alive; the end of a life
- Rub – To move something back and forth over a surface with your hand or another object
- Trunk – The long nose of an elephant.
- Pain – A physical feeling that is unpleasant or causes suffering; A feeling that hurts
- Veterinarian – animal doctor; doctor for animals
- Vitamin – Something healthy for your body that you find in food; A substance that is essential for the body to function properly
- Effect – A change that happens because of something else
- Cancer – a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body
- Government – the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- First lady – The wife of the president of a country
- Announce – share information openly; to tell the public; to make a statement; to report
- Request – to ask for something
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- What are some of the challenges of keeping elephants in zoos?
- Do you think Mali should have been moved to an elephant sanctuary? Why or why not?
- Do you think it’s important for zoos to have elephants or other big animals? Why or why not?
- What can people do to make sure animals in zoos are happy and healthy?
- What can we learn from Mali’s story?
- 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
In sad _____, Mali, a famous elephant at Manila Zoo in the Philippines, passed _____ on Tuesday. Mali was the star attraction for four _____ at the zoo.
Animal rights activists _____ worried about Mali for many years. She had been the only _____ at the zoo since 1990 and lonely. _____ people say the zoo’s conditions were poor and the zoo workers were not _____ to take care of an elephant.
Even _____ musician Paul McCartney was worried about Mali. He _____ authorities to move Mali out of the zoo to an elephant sanctuary for a _____ life. However, zoo workers said she couldn’t be _____ because she is not used to living in the _____.
The _____ of Manila, Honey Lacuna, shared a video on Facebook about Mali’s _____.
Mali’s health slowly got _____. Last Friday, people saw her rubbing her trunk on a _____. Elephants do this when they have pain.
Veterinarians _____ helping the lonely elephant with medicine and _____, but they had no effect. After Mali’s death, veterinarians _____ she had cancer and a problem with her heart.
Mali’s full _____ is Vishwa Ma’ali. She was a gift from the Sri Lanken _____ to the former first lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos, in _____. At that time, the Manila Zoo had another elephant named Shiva _____ passed away in 1990.
Mayor Lacuna _____ that she will request another elephant from the Sri Lanken _____.
