©(Four Paws via AP)
Pre-reading Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What do you think animals need to feel safe and healthy?
- What comes to your mind when you hear the word “animal rescue”?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- captivity /kap-TI-vuh-tee/
[noun] – the state of being kept in a closed or controlled place
Long periods of captivity can affect an animal’s health and behavior. - property /PRO-pur-tee/
[noun] – a piece of land or a building owned by a person or group
The police searched the property after receiving a report. - trade /treyd/
[noun] – the activity of buying and selling goods
The country controls the trade of rare plants. - supervision /soo-pur-VI-zhun/
[noun] – the act of watching and managing people or activities
The project continued under close supervision by experts. - confiscation /kon-fuh-SKEY-shuhn/
[noun] – the act of taking something away by authority
The confiscation of unsafe products followed a government inspection.
Article Reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
A lion and a bear rescued from illegal private captivity in northern Albania were transferred to animal sanctuaries in Germany in early December 2025. The animals were identified as a three-year-old lion named Erion and a two-year-old bear named Flora. Authorities in Tirana found the animals on a private estate after confirming unlawful wildlife keeping. The rescue was coordinated by the international animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS with support from Albania’s National Forestry Agency. Officials located the animals after online videos showed a lion being kept on the property. The case highlighted ongoing concerns about illegal wildlife trade in Albania, where wild animals are sometimes kept by private owners without proper care or veterinary supervision.
After confiscation, veterinarians sedated the animals to ensure safe transport. The journey to Germany lasted around 70 hours and crossed several European countries. On December 13, 2025, Erion arrived at a wild animal sanctuary in southeastern Germany, while Flora was taken to a bear sanctuary in northern Germany. Medical examinations showed that both animals were in poor condition. Flora was underweight and had dental problems, while Erion showed severe hair loss in the mane, with the cause still unclear. Animal welfare experts stated that weak legal frameworks and limited enforcement allow illegal private captivity to continue. FOUR PAWS said stronger regulations and stricter enforcement are needed to protect wild animals and prevent similar cases in the future.
After confiscation, veterinarians sedated the animals to ensure safe transport. The journey to Germany lasted around 70 hours and crossed several European countries. On December 13, 2025, Erion arrived at a wild animal sanctuary in southeastern Germany, while Flora was taken to a bear sanctuary in northern Germany. Medical examinations showed that both animals were in poor condition. Flora was underweight and had dental problems, while Erion showed severe hair loss in the mane, with the cause still unclear. Animal welfare experts stated that weak legal frameworks and limited enforcement allow illegal private captivity to continue. FOUR PAWS said stronger regulations and stricter enforcement are needed to protect wild animals and prevent similar cases in the future.
Comprehension Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What two animals were rescued from private captivity in northern Albania?
- Where did authorities find the animals?
- Why did authorities confirm that the wildlife keeping was unlawful?
- Which animal welfare organization coordinated the rescue?
- How did officials first learn about the lion on the property?
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever seen wild animals in a zoo or animal park? If so, what animal did you see, and how did it look? If not, what animal would you like to see one day?
- Have you ever watched an animal rescue video online? If so, how did the video make you feel? If not, what kind of animal video would you like to watch?
- Do you agree that keeping wild animals on private property can be dangerous for both people and animals?
- What problems can happen when animals are kept in illegal private captivity?
- What should governments do to protect wild animals?