Table of Contents
A zoo in Denmark wants people’s pets, like rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens.
But, these pets will not be in the zoo. They will be food for other animals.
The zoo has predators that eat meat. Animals like lions and tigers are predators. The zoo says it is natural for them to eat meat. It is like animals in the wild.
Eating whole animals helps the lions and tigers stay healthy. The meat, bones and fur are healthy for predators.
The zoo’s workers kill the pets first.
Some people are angry about this plan. They do not want pets to become food. Other people think it is a good idea. They like that the zoo is trying to be natural.
But, this is not new. Many zoos in Denmark do this.
In 2014, another zoo in Denmark had a problem. It killed a giraffe named Marius. The zoo said it was for a good reason. After, the zoo gave the giraffe’s body to the lions to eat.
Vocabulary
- Zoo – A park where many different animals are kept so people can see them
- Pet – An animal that lives with people; 🐕
- Predator – An animal that hunts and eats other animals;
- Natural – Something that comes from nature and is not made by people; not changed
- Wild – Living in a natural state, not kept or controlled by humans; Not in a zoo or someone’s home; where animals live freely
- Healthy – When your body is working well and strong; in good health; no sickness or injury
- Bone – 🦴; A hard, white part of the body that supports the body and protects the organs
- Fur – The soft hair that covers the bodies of some animals
- Kill – To make something or someone stop living; murder –
- Name – To give something/someone a name
- Reason – Why something happens; an explanation for something
Discussion Questions
- Do you think it is okay for zoos to give animals like rabbits to bigger animals for food?
- The zoo says this is natural. Do you agree that this is a good way for the animals to eat?
- Would you give your pet rabbit or chicken to a zoo? Why or why not?
- Some people are angry about the zoo’s plan. Why do you think they feel this way?
- Is it different to feed pets to lions than to feed them meat from a store?
- 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
A zoo in _____ wants people’s pets, like rabbits, guinea pigs, and _____ .
But, these pets will _____ be in the zoo. They will be food for _____ animals.
The zoo has predators _____ eat meat. Animals like lions and tigers _____ predators. The zoo says it is natural for them to _____ meat. It is like animals in the _____ .
Eating whole animals _____ the lions and tigers stay healthy. The _____ , bones and fur are healthy for _____ .
The zoo’s workers kill the _____ first.
Some people are _____ about this plan. They do not want pets to _____ food. Other people think it is a good _____ . They like that the zoo is trying to _____ natural.
But, this is not new. _____ zoos in Denmark do this.
In _____ , another zoo in Denmark had a problem. It _____ a giraffe named Marius. The zoo _____ it was for a good reason. After, the zoo _____ the giraffe’s body to the lions to eat.
