Chinese elephant herd walks from home to global stardom Part 2

Category: Science/Environment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. disturbance / dɪˈstɜr bəns / (n.) – the interruption of a calm, peaceful condition
    Example:

    A very loud noise caused a disturbance in the neighborhood last night.


  2. restraint / rɪˈstreɪnt / (n.) – control over one’s actions or emotions
    Example:

    The tour guide asked the guests to practice restraint and avoid touching the animals.


  3. gawk / gɔk / (v.) – to foolishly or rudely stare at someone or something
    Example:

    I wanted to ask the celebrity for his autograph, but I was too nervous and just gawked at him instead.


  4. lure (someone/something) away from (something) / lʊər əˈweɪ frʌm / (phrasal v.) – to use an object to pull someone or something away from another person or thing
    Example:

    Hank lured the wolf away from the chicken cage with some meat.


  5. scores of (something) / skɔrz əv / (idiom) – a large number of people or things
    Example:

    Scores of people were waiting in line to get tickets for the concert.


Article

Read the text below.

Continued from Part 1…


Asian elephants are loyal to their home ranges unless there have been disturbances, loss of resources or development, in which case they may move out, according to Nilanga Jayasinghe, manager for Asian species conservation at Worldwide Fund for Nature.


“In this case, we don’t really know why they left their home range, but do know that there has been significant habitat loss due to agriculture and conversion of forests into plantations within that range in the last few decades,” she wrote in an email.


Elephants are given the top level of protection in China, allowing their numbers to steadily increase even as their natural habitat shrinks, and requiring farmers and others to exercise maximum restraint when encountering them. Government orders have told people to stay inside and not to gawk at them or use firecrackers or otherwise attempt to scare them away.


So far, more passive means are being used to keep them out of urban areas, including the parking of trucks and construction equipment to block roads and the use of food drops to lure them away from areas.


As of June 8, the herd remained on the outskirts of Kunming, a city of 7 million, with one of the males having moved away on his own, creating even more excitement — and worry — for those attempting to keep tabs on them.


A statement June 7 from a provincial command center set up to monitor the group said the elephants appeared to be resting, while more than 410 emergency response personnel and police personnel, scores of vehicles and drones were deployed to monitor them. (AP)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • So far, passive means like blocking roads and dropping food are being used to keep the elephants out of urban areas. If these passive means stop working, do you think it’s okay to change to more active means? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • More than 410 emergency response personnel and police personnel, scores of vehicles, and drones were deployed to monitor the elephants, who appeared to be resting. Do you think this is necessary, or is it too much? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Elephants are given the top level of protection in China, allowing their numbers to steadily increase even as their natural habitat shrinks. Do you think the government should actively try to increase their habitat as they try to increase their numbers? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Are there any animals in your country that you think should be given the top level of protection? Why or why not? Discuss.