Conservationists Unite to Save Elephants in Myanmar

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Materials Daily News

Intermediate

Exercise 1

Vocabulary

conflict

Noun

ˈkɑːnflɪkt

a period of violence or fighting

Armed conflict is spreading throughout the city.

extinction

Noun

ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən

the fact or process of no longer existing

The bald eagle is a rare bird that faces possible extinction.

Do you think the extinction of humans can happen?

conservation

Noun

ˌkɑːnsərˈveɪʃən

the act of protecting something from change, loss, injury, etc.

Conservation policies protect certain animals, such as pandas.

Conservation of nature has now become a duty of all human beings.

She is interested in the conservation of rainforests.

The organization plays a key role in the conservation of wildlife.

Raising money for wildlife conservation can be very difficult.

poaching

Noun

poʊtʃɪŋ

the act of illegally catching or killing animals

Conservationists have started a campaign aimed at raising awareness of elephant poaching in Africa.

shrink

Verb

ʃrɪŋk

to become smaller in size, amount, etc.

The polar ice-caps are shrinking.

Cotton clothes can easily shrink when machine washed and dried.

NASA has shown that Greenland's ice cap is shrinking every year.

Exercise 2

Article

AI Generated Audio––:–– / ––:––

Conservationists Unite to Save Elephants in Myanmar

Elephants have had a rich history in Myanmar, the country also known as Burma. Throughout the country’s past, the animals have been used for everything, including transportation, agriculture and warfare.

But the survival of elephants is under threat. There are about 2,000 wild elephants left in Myanmar today, plus about 5,000 that are captive. Conservationists say increased conflict with humans and the illegal sale of elephants and their parts could result in the extinction of the Asian Elephant in Myanmar.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation published the Myanmar Elephant Conservation Plan (MECAP). The plan was produced with several wildlife groups. It aims to guide policies on the survival of elephants in Myanmar for the next 100 years or more.

One of the biggest threats to the survival of elephants in Myanmar is the illegal killing of the animals, especially for their skin.

“It has been argued that poaching is a … minor threat to Asian Elephants because some males and all females lack tusks,” the report said. But, the report also said that elephants are poached for meat and leather as well as for their tusks.

The plan asks for an increase in staff and for education efforts to show people that selling elephant parts is illegal.

Another problem is the increase in conflict between humans and elephants. Mark Grinley is a project manager for Fauna & Flora International.

"As the forest habitat is shrinking, I’m afraid these problems are going to be more common,” he said.

Exercise 3

Questions

What have elephants in Myanmar been used for in the past?

What does the Myanmar Elephant Conservation Plan aim to achieve?

Who is Mark Grinley?

Exercise 4

Discussion

Are you concerned about the fact that Asian Elephants in Myanmar are under threat of extinction?

Do you find it surprising that elephants in Myanmar have been used for "transportation, agriculture and warfare"?

Do you think there is any truth to the claim that poaching only presents "a minor threat" to Asian Elephants?

In your opinion, what should be done to prevent further conflict between humans and elephants?

Have you ever seen an elephant in person? If so, please share your experience. If not, would you like to?

Exercise 5

Further Discussion

Is your country home to any vulnerable or endangered animal species? If so, please share your knowledge.

In your opinion, what country has the most interesting wildlife? Why do you think so?

What animal do you find most fascinating? Please explain your answer.

Are there any initiatives or projects in your country aimed at raising awareness about conservation issues?

Would you argue that human activity is the main cause of habitat loss for animals the world over? Why? Why not?

Exercises for Further Self-Study

These self-study exercises are optional and should be carried out after the lesson has finished.

Exercise 6

Sentence Building

Write at least one sentence for each of the words in Exercise 1: Vocabulary. Begin by making sure you understand the definition of each word. Use the example sentences as a guide if you are unable to think of a sentence. Practice reading your sentences out loud.

Exercise 7

Summary

Make a brief summary of the article. Focus on the main topic and consider which pieces of information are most important. Make sure you include details such as what the article is about, who is mentioned in it, where and when the events took place, and also how and why they happened.

Parts of this lesson are based on:

An article by Voice of America.