The Reading / Listening - Zoo Pet Food - Level 6

A zoo in Denmark has made an unusual request to pet owners. The Aalborg Zoo in the north of the country has asked people to donate unwanted pets, such as chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, and small horses. These will not be exhibited as part of the zoo's collection. Instead, they will become food for the resident big cats and other predators. The zoo is attempting "to imitate the natural food chain of the animals". It added that using the unwanted small creatures as food is practical because "nothing goes to waste, and we ensure the natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators". It reassured people that the donated pets will be "gently euthanized" before being fed to other animals.

The zoo said that the practice of putting down animals to be used as feed was common in Denmark. Pia Nielsen, deputy director of the zoo, said: "Many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute." Regardless, there has been mixed reaction on social media. Some people felt sad about the euthanasia scheme, and wanted to protest. However, a man who donated a horse to the zoo was satisfied with its treatment. He said his animal was put down "in the most peaceful and calm way". There is so much interest in helping the zoo that there are waiting lists to donate horses. Donors can even receive a tax deduction based on the animal's value.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Zoo Pet Food - Level 4  or  Zoo Pet Food - Level 5

Sources
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/04/europe/denmark-aalborg-zoo-pets-predators-intl-hnk
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/04/danish-zoo-asks-pet-owners-to-donate-rabbits-and-horses-to-feed-its-predators
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/news/denmark-zoo-donate-small-pets-horses-feed-captive-predators/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. ZOOS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about zoos. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       zoo / unusual request / donate / rabbits / horses / big cats / predators / food chain /
       guests / partners / euthanasia / protest / satisfied / calm / peaceful / list / tax
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BANNED: Students A strongly believe zoos should be banned; Students B strongly believe they shouldn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PREDATORS: What do you know about these predators? What do you want to know? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

What I Want to Know

Tiger

 

 

Crocodile

 

 

Hyena

 

 

Eagle

 

 

Python

 

 

Giant squid

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. PREDATOR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "predator". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. PETS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best pets at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Rabbit
  • Goldfish
  • Dog
  • Parrot
  • Cat
  • Hamster
  • Horse
  • Chicken

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. donate a. A person or animal that lives in a place.
      2. exhibited b. Give something to help someone or something.
      3. resident (noun) c. Animals that kill and eat other animals.
      4. predators d. Copy the way someone or something acts.
      5. imitate e. Shown in public so people can see it.
      6. nutrition f. Helped someone (or an animal) to die in a kind and gentle way (usually for animals).
      7. euthanized g. The food needed to be healthy and grow.

    Paragraph 2

      8. feed (noun) h. Feel happy or thankful for something.
      9. appreciate i. Feeling happy with what you have or what happened.
      10. mixed reaction j. Food for animals.
      11. put down k. When some people like something and others do not.
      12. satisfied l. People who give something to help.
      13. donors m. Help an animal die because it is sick or not wanted.
      14. deduction n. Money taken off the total amount you pay (for example, in taxes).

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article said a request made by a zoo was not at all unusual.     T / F
  2. The zoo wants unwanted horses so it can feed them to its big cats.     T / F
  3. The zoo doesn't want to waste even small creatures.     T / F
  4. The donated pets are put to sleep before they are killed.     T / F
  5. There is unanimous support for the zoo's request on social media.     T / F
  6. A horse owner was shocked because of how his horse was treated.     T / F
  7. There is a waiting list for people to donate their horses.     T / F
  8. Horse owners who donate their animals to the zoo can get a tax break.   T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. request
  2. exhibited
  3. imitate
  4. well-being
  5. euthanized
  6. common
  7. appreciate
  8. treatment
  9. calm
  10. deduction
  1. care
  2. put to sleep
  3. tranquil
  4. put on display
  5. discounting
  6. copy
  7. widespread
  8. appeal
  9. be grateful for
  10. welfare

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. A zoo in Denmark has made an unusual
  2. guinea
  3. These will not be exhibited as part
  4. food for the resident big cats
  5. pets will be gently euthanized before being
  6. the practice of putting down animals
  7. Some people felt sad about the
  8. He said his animal was put
  9. There is so much interest
  10. Donors can even receive a tax deduction
  1. of the zoo's collection
  2. down
  3. and other predators
  4. to be used as feed
  5. based on the animal's value
  6. request to pet owners
  7. in helping the zoo
  8. euthanasia scheme
  9. pigs
  10. fed to other animals

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
practical
guinea
resident
euthanized
request
waste
exhibited
chain

A zoo in Denmark has made an unusual (1) _________________________________ to pet owners. The Aalborg Zoo in the north of the country has asked people to donate unwanted pets, such as chickens, (2) _________________________________ pigs, rabbits, and small horses. These will not be (3) _________________________________ as part of the zoo's collection. Instead, they will become food for the (4) _________________________________ big cats and other predators. The zoo is attempting "to imitate the natural food (5) _________________________________ of the animals". It added that using the unwanted small creatures as food is (6) _________________________________ because "nothing goes to (7) _________________________________, and we ensure the natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators". It reassured people that the donated pets will be "gently (8) _________________________________" before being fed to other animals.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
appreciate
deduction
treatment
waiting
reaction
down
feed
scheme

The zoo said that the practice of putting down animals to be used as (9) _________________________________ was common in Denmark. Pia Nielsen, deputy director of the zoo, said: "Many of our guests and partners (10) _________________________________ the opportunity to contribute." Regardless, there has been mixed (11) _________________________________ on social media. Some people felt sad about the euthanasia (12) _________________________________, and wanted to protest. However, a man who donated a horse to the zoo was satisfied with its (13) _________________________________. He said his animal was put (14) _________________________________ "in the most peaceful and calm way". There is so much interest in helping the zoo that there are (15) _________________________________ lists to donate horses. Donors can even receive a tax (16) _________________________________ based on the animal's value.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A zoo in Denmark has made an unusual request ______
     a.  to pet owners
     b.  to abet owners
     c.  two pet owners
     d.  to pet owner
2)  such as chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, and small horses. These will ______
     a.  not be exhibition
     b.  not be exhibit
     c.  not be exhibited
     d.  not be exhibiting
3)  Instead, they will become food for the resident big cats ______
     a.  and other creditors
     b.  and other raptors
     c.  and other predators
     d.  and other threats
4)  It added that using the unwanted small creatures as ______
     a.  food is practice all
     b.  food is practical
     c.  food is practicality
     d.  food is practically
5)  It reassured people that the donated pets will ______
     a.  be "gently electrified"
     b.  be "gently electrocuted"
     c.  be "gently euthanized"
     d.  be "gently youth and dies"

6)  The zoo said that the practice of putting down animals to be used as ______
     a.  feeding was common
     b.  fodder was common
     c.  fed was common
     d.  feed was common
7)  Many of our guests and partners appreciate the ______
     a.  opportunity to contribute
     b.  opportunity for contribute
     c.  opportunity too contribute
     d.  opportune to contribute
8)  Some people felt sad about the euthanasia scheme, and ______
     a.  wanted to protect
     b.  wanted to protesting
     c.  wanted to protest
     d.  wanted to protects
9)  He said his animal was put down in the most peaceful ______
     a.  ending calm way
     b.  and calm way
     c.  ended calm way
     d.  end calm way
10)  the zoo that there are waiting lists to donate horses. Donors can even receive ______
     a.  a taxed deduction
     b.  a tax deduction
     c.  attacks deduction
     d.  a lax deduction

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A zoo in Denmark has made (1) _______________________________________________ to pet owners. The Aalborg Zoo in the north of the country has asked people to donate unwanted pets, (2) _______________________________________________, guinea pigs, rabbits, and small horses. These will not be (3) _______________________________________________ of the zoo's collection. Instead, they will become food for the resident big cats and other predators. The zoo is attempting "to imitate the (4) _______________________________________________ of the animals". It added that using the unwanted small creatures as food is practical because "nothing goes to waste, and we (5) _______________________________________________ behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators". It reassured people that the donated pets will be "gently euthanized" (6) _______________________________________________ to other animals.

The zoo said that the practice of putting down animals to be (7) _______________________________________________ was common in Denmark. Pia Nielsen, deputy director of the zoo, said: "Many of our guests and partners appreciate the (8) _______________________________________________." Regardless, there has been mixed reaction on social media. Some people felt sad about (9) _______________________________________________, and wanted to protest. However, a man who donated a horse to the zoo was satisfied with its treatment. He said his animal was put down "in the most (10) _______________________________________________ way". There is so much (11) _______________________________________________ the zoo that there are waiting lists to donate horses. Donors can even receive a (12) _______________________________________________ on the animal's value.

Comprehension questions

  1. To whom did a zoo appeal for unwanted pets?
  2. What kinds of animals will end up eating the donated pets?
  3. What does the zoo want to imitate?
  4. What did the zoo say becomes wasted?
  5. How are the donated pets put to death?
  6. Who is appreciative of the chance to help the zoo?
  7. How did some social media users feel about the euthanasia scheme?
  8. How did a man feel about how his horse ended his days?
  9. What is there a list to do at the zoo?
  10. What can donors of horses get?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  To whom did a zoo appeal for unwanted pets?
a) other zoos
b) pet owners
c) pet shops
d) animal rescue shelters
2) What kinds of animals will end up eating the donated pets?
a) sea lions, otters and walruses
b) hungry ones
c) snakes and other reptiles
d) big cats and other predators
3) What does the zoo want to imitate?
a) the savannah
b) a zoo in Kenya
c) the animals' natural food chain
d) meat
4) What did the zoo say becomes wasted?
a) nothing
b) wasted
c) food
d) time
5) How are the donated pets put to death?
a) They are shot with a stun gun.
b) They are gently euthanized.
c) Something is put in their food.
d) They are given special drugs.

6) Who is appreciative of the chance to help the zoo?
a) the zoo's guests and partners
b) pet owners
c) zoo keepers
d) wildlife experts
7) How did some social media users feel about the euthanasia scheme?
a) nonplussed
b) excited
c) sad
d) angry
8) How did a man feel about how his horse ended his days?
a) satisfied
b) shocked
c) sad
d) terrible
9) What is there a list to do at the zoo?
a) Become a member
b) See the rarer animals
c) Visit
d) Donate horses
10) What can donors of horses get?
a) a smaller pet
b) an annual pass
c) a tax deduction
d) a special photo

Role play

Role  A – Rabbit
You think a rabbit is the best pet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their pets. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these as pets (and why): a goldfish, a dog or a horse.

Role  B – Goldfish
You think a goldfish is the best pet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their pets. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these as pets (and why): a rabbit, a dog or a horse.

Role  C – Dog
You think a dog is the best pet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their pets. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these as pets (and why): a goldfish, a rabbit or a horse.

Role  D – Horse
You think a horse is the best pet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their pets. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these as pets (and why): a goldfish, a dog or a rabbit.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'pet'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'food'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • longest
    • diet
    • reason
    • trend
    • repeat
    • linked
    • know
    • came
    • study
    • due
    • simple
    • lot

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Zoo Pet Food

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'pet'?
    3. What do you think of zoos?
    4. What do you think of the zoo's request for unwanted pets?
    5. Would you ever donate an unwanted pet to be used as food?
    6. What else could the zoo do to get meat for its animals?
    7. Should big cats be kept in zoos?
    8. How important is it for zoo animals to be part of a natural food chain?
    9. What does it mean to be gently euthanized?
    10. What advice do you have for the zoo?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'food'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of the practice of putting down animals?
    5. What might the mixed reaction be on social media?
    6. Is the scheme OK if the pet owners are happy?
    7. What experiences of zoos do you have?
    8. Will there always be zoos?
    9. Will AI animals take over from real animals in zoos?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the zoo?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A zoo in Denmark has made an unusual (1) ____ to pet owners. The Aalborg Zoo in the north of the country has asked people to donate unwanted pets, such (2) ____ chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, and small horses. These will not be exhibited as part of the zoo's (3) ____. Instead, they will become food for the resident big cats and other predators. The zoo is attempting "(4) ____ imitate the natural food chain of the animals". It added that using the unwanted small creatures as food is practical because "nothing (5) ____ to waste, and we ensure the natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators". It reassured people that the donated pets will be "(6) ____ euthanized" before being fed to other animals.

    The zoo said that the practice (7) ____ putting down animals to be used as feed was common in Denmark. Pia Nielsen, deputy director of the zoo, said: "Many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to (8) ____." Regardless, there has been mixed reaction on social media. Some people felt sad about the euthanasia scheme, and wanted to protest. However, a man who (9) ____ a horse to the zoo was satisfied with its treatment. He said his animal was (10) ____ down "in the most peaceful and calm way". There is so much interest (11) ____ helping the zoo that there are waiting lists to donate horses. Donors can even receive a (12) ____ deduction based on the animal's value.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     conquest     (b)     bequest     (c)     inquest     (d)     request    
    2. (a)     that     (b)     has     (c)     was     (d)     as    
    3. (a)     collects     (b)     collection     (c)     collect     (d)     collecting    
    4. (a)     for     (b)     by     (c)     to     (d)     at    
    5. (a)     takes     (b)     gets     (c)     goes     (d)     fails    
    6. (a)     gently     (b)     genially     (c)     greatly     (d)     jauntily    
    7. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     as    
    8. (a)     contribute     (b)     demand     (c)     humane     (d)     peruse    
    9. (a)     donates     (b)     donated     (c)     donating     (d)     donation    
    10. (a)     run     (b)     get     (c)     put     (d)     turned    
    11. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     of    
    12. (a)     taxing     (b)     taxi     (c)     taxed     (d)     tax

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the resident big cats and other atorsrped
    2. teiitma the natural food chain
    3. the unwanted small etarusecr
    4. tninuirto and well-being
    5. It eusrrased people
    6. pets will be gently aedunzieht

    Paragraph 2

    1. deyput director of the zoo
    2. partners teeacprpai the opportunity
    3. slredeasrg, there has been mixed reaction
    4. itsedfias with its treatment
    5. Donors can even receive a tax dcditoeun
    6. seabd on the animal's value

    Put the text back together

    (  1  )   A zoo in Denmark has made an unusual request to pet owners. The Aalborg Zoo in the north
    (    )     chain of the animals". It added that using the unwanted small creatures as food is practical because "nothing goes to
    (    )     felt sad about the euthanasia scheme, and wanted to protest. However, a man who donated a horse to the zoo was
    (    )     food for the resident big cats and other predators. The zoo is attempting "to imitate the natural food
    (    )     in Denmark. Pia Nielsen, deputy director of the zoo, said: "Many of our guests and partners appreciate the
    (    )     lists to donate horses. Donors can even receive a tax deduction based on the animal's value.
    (    )     of the country has asked people to donate unwanted pets, such as chickens, guinea
    (    )     opportunity to contribute." Regardless, there has been mixed reaction on social media. Some people
    (    )     pigs, rabbits, and small horses. These will not be exhibited as part of the zoo's collection. Instead, they will become
    (    )     predators". It reassured people that the donated pets will be "gently euthanized" before being fed to other animals.
    (    )     satisfied with its treatment. He said his animal was put down "in the most peaceful and calm
    (    )     The zoo said that the practice of putting down animals to be used as feed was common
    (    )     waste, and we ensure the natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our
    (    )     way". There is so much interest in helping the zoo that there are waiting

    Put the words in the right order

    1. A   request   unusual   zoo   made   Denmark   an   in   .
    2. It   people   donate   to   pets   asked   has   unwanted   .
    3. They'll   for   food   become   big   cats   resident   the   .
    4. It's   chain   food   imitate   attempting   natural   the   to   .
    5. The   gently   be   will   pets   donated   euthanized   .
    6. Putting   feed   animals   used   be   as   down   to   .
    7. There   social   has   mixed   media   been   on   reaction   .
    8. Some   euthanasia   scheme   people   felt   about   the   sad   .
    9. There's   zoo   the   much   helping   interest   in   so   .
    10. Donors   tax   a   deduction   even   can   receive   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A zoo in Denmark has made an unusual / unusually request to pet owners. The Aalborg Zoo in the north off / of the country has asked people to donate unwanted pets, such as chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, and small horses. These will not be exhibited has / as part of the zoo's collection. Instead, they will become food for the residence / resident big cats and other predators. The zoo is attempting "for / to imitate the naturally / natural food chain of the animals". It added that using the unwanted small creatures as food is practical because "something / nothing goes to waste, and we ensure / sure the natural behaviour, nutritious / nutrition and well-being of our predators". It reassured people that the donated pets will be "gently euthanized" before being fed / feeding to other animals.

    The zoo said that the practice of put / putting down animals to be used as feed was common / commonly in Denmark. Pia Nielsen, deputy director of the zoo, said: "Many of our gests / guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute." Regarding / Regardless, there has been mixed reaction on social media. Some people felt sad for / about the euthanasia scheme, and wanted to protest. However, a man who donated the / a horse to the zoo was satisfied with its treat / treatment. He said his animal was put down "in the most peaceful and calm way". There is so many / much interest in helping the zoo that there are waiting lists for / to donate horses. Donors can even receive a tax / taxi deduction based on the animal's value.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _  z__  _n  D_nm_rk  h_s  m_d_  _n  _n_s__l  r_q__st  t_  p_t  _wn_rs.  Th_  __lb_rg  Z__  _n  th_  n_rth  _f  th_  c__ntry  h_s  _sk_d  p__pl_  t_  d_n_t_  _nw_nt_d  p_ts,  s_ch  _s  ch_ck_ns,  g__n__  p_gs,  r_bb_ts,  _nd  sm_ll  h_rs_s.  Th_s_  w_ll  n_t  b_  _xh_b_t_d  _s  p_rt  _f  th_  z__'s  c_ll_ct__n.  _nst__d,  th_y  w_ll  b_c_m_  f__d  f_r  th_  r_s_d_nt  b_g  c_ts  _nd  _th_r  pr_d_t_rs.  Th_  z__  _s  _tt_mpt_ng  "t_  _m_t_t_  th_  n_t_r_l  f__d  ch__n  _f  th_  _n_m_ls".  _t  _dd_d  th_t  _s_ng  th_  _nw_nt_d  sm_ll  cr__t_r_s  _s  f__d  _s  pr_ct_c_l  b_c__s_  "n_th_ng  g__s  t_  w_st_,  _nd  w_  _ns_r_  th_  n_t_r_l  b_h_v___r,  n_tr_t__n  _nd  w_ll-b__ng  _f  __r  pr_d_t_rs".  _t  r__ss_r_d  p__pl_  th_t  th_  d_n_t_d  p_ts  w_ll  b_  "g_ntly  __th_n_z_d"  b_f_r_  b__ng  f_d  t_  _th_r  _n_m_ls.

    Th_  z__  s__d  th_t  th_  pr_ct_c_  _f  p_tt_ng  d_wn  _n_m_ls  t_  b_  _s_d  _s  f__d  w_s  c_mm_n  _n  D_nm_rk.  P__  N__ls_n,  d_p_ty  d_r_ct_r  _f  th_  z__,  s__d:  "M_ny  _f  __r  g__sts  _nd  p_rtn_rs  _ppr_c__t_  th_  _pp_rt_n_ty  t_  c_ntr_b_t_."  R_g_rdl_ss,  th_r_  h_s  b__n  m_x_d  r__ct__n  _n  s_c__l  m_d__.  S_m_  p__pl_  f_lt  s_d  _b__t  th_  __th_n_s__  sch_m_,  _nd  w_nt_d  t_  pr_t_st.  H_w_v_r,  _  m_n  wh_  d_n_t_d  _  h_rs_  t_  th_  z__  w_s  s_t_sf__d  w_th  _ts  tr__tm_nt.  H_  s__d  h_s  _n_m_l  w_s  p_t  d_wn  "_n  th_  m_st  p__c_f_l  _nd  c_lm  w_y".  Th_r_  _s  s_  m_ch  _nt_r_st  _n  h_lp_ng  th_  z__  th_t  th_r_  _r_  w__t_ng  l_sts  t_  d_n_t_  h_rs_s.  D_n_rs  c_n  _v_n  r_c__v_  _  t_x  d_d_ct__n  b_s_d  _n  th_  _n_m_l's  v_l__.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a zoo in denmark has made an unusual request to pet owners the aalborg zoo in the north of the country has asked people to donate unwanted pets such as chickens guinea pigs rabbits and small horses these will not be exhibited as part of the zoos collection instead they will become food for the resident big cats and other predators the zoo is attempting to imitate the natural food chain of the animals it added that using the unwanted small creatures as food is practical because nothing goes to waste and we ensure the natural behaviour nutrition and wellbeing of our predators it reassured people that the donated pets will be gently euthanized before being fed to other animals

    the zoo said that the practice of putting down animals to be used as feed was common in denmark pia nielsen deputy director of the zoo said many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute regardless there has been mixed reaction on social media some people felt sad about the euthanasia scheme and wanted to protest however a man who donated a horse to the zoo was satisfied with its treatment he said his animal was put down in the most peaceful and calm way there is so much interest in helping the zoo that there are waiting lists to donate horses donors can even receive a tax deduction based on the animals value

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AzooinDenmarkhasmadeanunusualrequesttopetowners.TheAalbor
    gZoointhenorthofthecountryhasaskedpeopletodonateunwantedpet
    s,suchaschickens,guineapigs,rabbits,andsmallhorses.Thesewillnot
    beexhibitedaspartofthezoo'scollection.Instead,theywillbecomefood
    fortheresidentbigcatsandotherpredators.Thezooisattempting"toimi
    tatethenaturalfoodchainoftheanimals".Itaddedthatusingtheunwant
    edsmallcreaturesasfoodispracticalbecause"nothinggoestowaste,an
    dweensurethenaturalbehaviour,nutritionandwell-beingofourpredat
    ors".Itreassuredpeoplethatthedonatedpetswillbe"gentlyeuthanized
    "beforebeingfedtootheranimals.Thezoosaidthatthepracticeofputtin
    gdownanimalstobeusedasfeedwascommoninDenmark.PiaNielsen,d
    eputydirectorofthezoo,said:"Manyofourguestsandpartnersapprecia
    tetheopportunitytocontribute."Regardless,therehasbeenmixedreac
    tiononsocialmedia.Somepeoplefeltsadabouttheeuthanasiascheme,
    andwantedtoprotest.However,amanwhodonatedahorsetothezoowa
    ssatisfiedwithitstreatment.Hesaidhisanimalwasputdown"inthemost
    peacefulandcalmway".Thereissomuchinterestinhelpingthezoothatt
    herearewaitingliststodonatehorses.Donorscanevenreceiveataxded
    uctionbasedontheanimal'svalue.

    Free writing

    Write about zoo pet food for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Zoos are essential to help conserve animals. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. ZOOS: Make a poster about zoos. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. PET FOOD: Write a magazine article about giving unwanted pets to zoos to be used for food for big cats. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on zoos. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on zoos. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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