Mali, a sad elephant, has passed away at a zoo in the Philippines. Mali spent most of her life alone in a pen at the Manila Zoo, which made animal rights activists worried. Even Sir Paul McCartney wanted her to be moved to an elephant sanctuary. The mayor of Manila, Honey Lacuna, announced Mali’s death in a video on Facebook. She said that visiting Mali at the zoo was one of her happiest memories from when she was a child.

Before she died, Mali was seen rubbing her trunk against a wall, which showed that she was in pain. The zoo’s main vet gave her medicine, but Mali died later that day. An examination showed that she had cancer in some organs and a blockage in her aorta. Mali, whose full name is Vishwa Ma’ali, was given to Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines, by the Sri Lankan government when she was only 11 months old.

People who care about animals were upset about the bad conditions at Manila Zoo and said that Mali didn’t get the right medical care. But the zoo thought it was best to keep Mali in captivity because she had never lived in the wild. In 2012, Sir Paul McCartney wrote a letter to the president of the Philippines at the time, Benigno Aquino III, asking him to move Mali to a sanctuary in Thailand. Even though McCartney and others asked for Mali to be moved, she stayed at Manila Zoo.

Many Filipinos are sad about Mali’s death because they remember seeing her when they went on school trips. Some hope that no more elephants will be kept in zoos. Mayor Honey Lacuna said she would ask the Sri Lankan government to give another elephant to the capital of the Philippines. She said that Mali wasn’t alone because she had caretakers and visitors with her during her time at the zoo. Mali was loved by many people at Manila Zoo and will always be remembered by Filipinos.

Original news source: Philippines: World’s ‘saddest’ elephant dies in Manila zoo (BBC)

Listen

Slow

Normal

Fast

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and then summarize the main points in their own words. They should focus on the key details, such as Mali’s life at the zoo, the efforts to move her to a sanctuary, and the controversy surrounding her care. Afterward, they can share their summaries with the class and discuss any differing perspectives they may have.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will come up with a list of questions related to the article, such as “Do you think Mali should have been moved to a sanctuary?” or “Should animals be kept in zoos?” Each group will then conduct an opinion poll, asking their classmates these questions and recording their responses. Afterward, they can present their findings to the class and engage in a discussion about the different viewpoints.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Give each student a set of vocabulary words from the article, such as “pen,” “sanctuary,” “cancer,” and “examination.” In pairs or small groups, students will take turns drawing a picture to represent one of the words, while their classmates try to guess what it is. This activity will help students reinforce their understanding of the vocabulary and promote communication and collaboration within the group.

– Sketch It
Instructions: In pairs, students will choose a specific moment or scene from the article, such as Mali rubbing her trunk against a wall or the mayor announcing her death on Facebook. Without using any words, they will take turns sketching the chosen scene while their partner tries to guess what it is. This activity encourages students to use their creativity and observational skills while practicing their speaking and listening abilities.

– Two Truths and a Lie
Instructions: In small groups, students will take turns sharing three statements related to the article: two true statements and one false statement. The other group members must guess which statement is the lie. After each person shares their statements, the group can discuss their reasoning and any interesting facts or details they learned from the article. This activity promotes critical thinking and encourages students to engage with the content in a fun and interactive way.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Who was Mali and where did she live most of her life?
2. Why were animal rights activists worried about Mali?
3. Who wanted Mali to be moved to an elephant sanctuary?
4. How did the mayor of Manila announce Mali’s death?
5. What did Mali do before she died that showed she was in pain?
6. What did an examination show about Mali’s health?
7. Why did some people think Mali didn’t receive the right medical care?
8. What did Sir Paul McCartney ask the president of the Philippines to do in 2012?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Mali, a sad elephant, has passed away at a zoo in the (1)______. Mali spent most of her life alone in a pen at the Manila Zoo, which made animal rights activists worried. Even Sir Paul McCartney (2)______ her to be moved to an elephant sanctuary. The mayor of Manila, Honey Lacuna, (3)______ Mali’s death in a (4)______ on Facebook. She said that visiting Mali at the zoo was one of her happiest memories from when she was a child.

Before she died, Mali was seen rubbing her trunk against a wall, which showed that she was in pain. The zoo’s main vet gave her medicine, but Mali died later that day. An examination showed that she had cancer in some organs and a blockage in her aorta. Mali, whose full name is Vishwa Ma’ali, was given to Imelda (5)______, the former (6)______ lady of the Philippines, by the Sri Lankan government when she was only 11 (7)______ old.

People who care about animals were (8)______ about the bad conditions at Manila Zoo and said that Mali didn’t get the right medical care. But the zoo thought it was best to keep Mali in captivity because she had never lived in the wild. In 2012, Sir Paul McCartney wrote a letter to the (9)______ of the Philippines at the time, Benigno Aquino III, (10)______ him to move Mali to a sanctuary in Thailand. Even though McCartney and others (11)______ for Mali to be moved, she (12)______ at Manila Zoo.

Many Filipinos are sad about Mali’s death because they (13)______ seeing her when they went on school (14)______. Some hope that no more elephants will be kept in zoos. Mayor Honey Lacuna said she would ask the Sri Lankan government to give another elephant to the capital of the Philippines. She said that Mali wasn’t alone because she had (15)______ and visitors with her during her time at the zoo. Mali was (16)______ by many people at Manila Zoo and will always be remembered by Filipinos.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. How would you feel if you were kept alone in a small room for most of your life?
2. Do you think it’s important for animals to receive proper medical care? Why or why not?
3. What is an elephant sanctuary? Why do you think Sir Paul McCartney wanted Mali to be moved to one?
4. How do you think Mali felt being in captivity for her whole life? Why?
5. Do you think it’s fair to keep animals in zoos? Why or why not?
6. How would you feel if you were given to someone as a gift when you were just a baby?
7. What is cancer? How do you think Mali felt having it?
8. How would you feel if you were unable to live in your natural habitat?
9. Do you think it’s important for animals to have companionship? Why or why not?
10. How would you feel if you were loved and remembered by many people?
11. What is a caretaker? Why do you think Mali had caretakers at the zoo?
12. How would you feel if you were visited by people during your time in captivity?
13. Do you think it’s important for animals to be treated with kindness? Why or why not?
14. How would you feel if you were a famous animal like Mali?
15. What do you think the Sri Lankan government should do in response to Mali’s death? Why?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Mali
2. elephant
3. zoo
4. Philippines
5. sanctuary
6. captivity
7. vet
8. cancer

Meanings:
(a) A country in Southeast Asia
(b) Being kept in a confined space
(c) A disease that can cause death in living things
(d) A doctor for animals
(e) A place where animals are kept for people to see
(f) A safe place for animals to live freely
(g) A sad animal that has passed away
(h) A large animal with a long trunk
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where did Mali the elephant pass away?
(a) at a zoo in the Philippines
(b) at a zoo in Thailand
(c) at a zoo in Sri Lanka
(d) at a zoo in Malaysia

2. Why were animal rights activists worried about Mali?
(a) She was too old to be kept in captivity.
(b) She was causing trouble for the other animals at the zoo.
(c) She spent most of her life alone in a pen at the zoo.
(d) She was too sick to be moved to a sanctuary.

3. Who announced Mali’s death on Facebook?
(a) the mayor of Manila, Honey Lacuna
(b) Sir Paul McCartney
(c) the president of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino III
(d) the Sri Lankan government

4. What did Mali do that showed she was in pain?
(a) refused to eat her food
(b) rubbed her trunk against a wall
(c) made loud noises
(d) ran around her pen

5. What did an examination reveal about Mali’s health?
(a) She had a broken leg and a fever.
(b) She had a stomach infection and a broken tooth.
(c) She had a sprained ankle and a heart condition.
(d) She had cancer in some organs and a blockage in her aorta.

6. Why did the zoo decide to keep Mali in captivity?
(a) She was too dangerous to be released into the wild.
(b) She didn’t like other elephants.
(c) She was too old to survive in the wild.
(d) She had never lived in the wild.

7. Who asked the president of the Philippines to move Mali to a sanctuary in Thailand?
(a) Honey Lacuna
(b) Imelda Marcos
(c) Sir Paul McCartney
(d) The Sri Lankan government

8. What do some Filipinos hope for after Mali’s death?
(a) More elephants being brought to Manila Zoo.
(b) No more elephants being kept in zoos.
(c) The zoo getting better medical care for its animals.
(d) Mali being replaced with another elephant from Sri Lanka.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Sir Paul McCartney advocated against Mali being moved to an elephant sanctuary.
2. An elephant named Mali has passed away at a zoo in the Philippines.
3. The mayor of Manila, Honey Lacuna, announced Mali’s death in a video on Facebook.
4. An examination revealed that Mali had cancer and a blockage in her aorta.
5. Mali spent most of her life alone in a pen at the Manila Zoo.
6. Despite calls for her relocation, Mali was immediately transferred from Manila Zoo before her death.
7. Mali showed signs of pleasure by rubbing her trunk against a wall before she died.
8. Animal rights activists were satisfied with Mali’s living conditions.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Why were animal rights activists worried about Mali’s living conditions at the Manila Zoo?
2. How did Mali show that she was in pain before she died?
3. Who was Mali given to by the Sri Lankan government when she was a baby?
4. Why did the zoo think it was best to keep Mali in captivity?
5. What did Sir Paul McCartney ask the president of the Philippines to do in 2012?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who was Mali and where did she live most of her life?
Mali was an elephant who lived most of her life at the Manila Zoo in the Philippines.

2. Why were animal rights activists worried about Mali?
Animal rights activists were worried about Mali because she spent most of her life alone in a pen at the zoo, which they believed was not a suitable environment for her.

3. Who wanted Mali to be moved to an elephant sanctuary?
Sir Paul McCartney, a famous musician and animal rights activist, wanted Mali to be moved to an elephant sanctuary.

4. How did the mayor of Manila announce Mali’s death?
The mayor of Manila, Honey Lacuna, announced Mali’s death in a video on Facebook.

5. What did Mali do before she died that showed she was in pain?
Before she died, Mali was seen rubbing her trunk against a wall, which indicated that she was in pain.

6. What did an examination show about Mali’s health?
An examination showed that Mali had cancer in some organs and a blockage in her aorta.

7. Why did some people think Mali didn’t receive the right medical care?
Some people believed that Mali didn’t receive the right medical care because they felt that the conditions at Manila Zoo were not suitable for her and that she should have been moved to a sanctuary for better treatment.

8. What did Sir Paul McCartney ask the president of the Philippines to do in 2012?
In 2012, Sir Paul McCartney wrote a letter to the president of the Philippines, asking him to move Mali to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Philippines
(2) wanted
(3) announced
(4) video
(5) Marcos
(6) first
(7) months
(8) upset
(9) president
(10) asking
(11) asked
(12) stayed
(13) remember
(14) trips
(15) caretakers
(16) loved
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Mali
Answer: (g) A sad animal that has passed away

2. elephant
Answer: (h) A large animal with a long trunk

3. zoo
Answer: (e) A place where animals are kept for people to see

4. Philippines
Answer: (a) A country in Southeast Asia

5. sanctuary
Answer: (f) A safe place for animals to live freely

6. captivity
Answer: (b) Being kept in a confined space

7. vet
Answer: (d) A doctor for animals

8. cancer
Answer: (c) A disease that can cause death in living things
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where did Mali the elephant pass away?
Answer: (a) at a zoo in the Philippines

2. Why were animal rights activists worried about Mali?
Answer: (c) She spent most of her life alone in a pen at the zoo.

3. Who announced Mali’s death on Facebook?
Answer: (a) the mayor of Manila, Honey Lacuna

4. What did Mali do that showed she was in pain?
Answer: (b) rubbed her trunk against a wall

5. What did an examination reveal about Mali’s health?
Answer: (d) She had cancer in some organs and a blockage in her aorta.

6. Why did the zoo decide to keep Mali in captivity?
Answer: (d) She had never lived in the wild.

7. Who asked the president of the Philippines to move Mali to a sanctuary in Thailand?
Answer: (c) Sir Paul McCartney

8. What do some Filipinos hope for after Mali’s death?
Answer: (b) No more elephants being kept in zoos.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Sir Paul McCartney advocated against Mali being moved to an elephant sanctuary. (Answer: False)
2. An elephant named Mali has passed away at a zoo in the Philippines. (Answer: True)
3. The mayor of Manila, Honey Lacuna, announced Mali’s death in a video on Facebook. (Answer: True)
4. An examination revealed that Mali had cancer and a blockage in her aorta. (Answer: True)
5. Mali spent most of her life alone in a pen at the Manila Zoo. (Answer: True)
6. Despite calls for her relocation, Mali was immediately transferred from Manila Zoo before her death. (Answer: False)
7. Mali showed signs of pleasure by rubbing her trunk against a wall before she died. (Answer: False)
8. Animal rights activists were satisfied with Mali’s living conditions. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧