Animals & Environment
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12 Sept 2026
An orphaned elephant calf resting at a sanctuary. Source: National Geographic
Orphaned Baby Elephant Saved in Nigeria
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) A baby elephant learns to get water from a pipe.
b) A baby elephant flies in a blue helicopter.
c) A baby elephant lives inside a big school.
Ask:
(1) Do you like baby animals?
(2) What do elephants eat and drink?
VOCABULARY
forest (/ˈfɒr.ɪst/, noun)
Meaning: A large area of land covered with many trees.
Example: The little elephant lives in a green forest.
rescue (/ˈres.kjuː/, verb)
Meaning: To save someone or something from danger.
Example: Kind rangers rescue animals in trouble.
park (/pɑːk/, noun)
Meaning: A large public area of land kept in its natural state.
Example: The baby elephant is safe in the national park.
truck (/trʌk/, noun)
Meaning: A large motor vehicle used for carrying heavy things.
Example: They move the small elephant in a big truck.
water (/ˈwɔː.tə/, noun)
Meaning: The clear liquid that falls as rain and is in rivers.
Example: The baby plays with fresh water every day.
pipe (/paɪp/, noun)
Meaning: A long tube that carries water or gas.
Example: He splashes water from a long pipe.
Rangers in Nigeria find a small baby elephant in a forest. The baby elephant is lost and very weak. He is alone in Okomu National Park. The rangers rescue the small animal quickly.
They carry the baby in a truck. The team names the baby elephant Agbaibor. He drinks special milk and grows strong. The rangers watch him day and night. They give him good care and love.
Agbaibor is a happy young elephant now. He loves playing with water in his home. He gets water from a pipe and splashes it. He runs to greet his human friends. He throws his trunk up in the air. People are happy because Agbaibor is safe in the park.
Agbaibor soon figured out he could draw water from the pipe and break it to spray himself. After many attempts at repair, the caretakers have given up trying to fix it. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How do you feel when you read about Agbaibor?
2. Why do baby animals need help when they are lost?
3. Would you like to work as a park ranger?
4. What animals live in forests near your country?
5. How can people help protect wild animals today?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: forest, pipe, park, rescue, truck, water
Rangers in Nigeria find a small baby elephant in a forest. The baby elephant is lost and very weak. He is alone in Okomu National Park. The rangers -------(1) the small animal quickly.
They carry the baby in a -------(2). The team names the baby elephant Agbaibor. He drinks special milk and grows strong. The rangers watch him day and night. They give him good care and love.
Agbaibor is a happy young elephant now. He loves playing with -------(3) in his home. He gets water from a -------(4) and splashes it. He runs to greet his human friends. He throws his trunk up in the air. People are happy because Agbaibor is safe in the -------(5).
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this story?
a) Rangers rescue an orphaned baby elephant in Nigeria and care for him.
b) Elephants love driving big trucks through national parks.
c) A park ranger builds a new house near a river.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
1. The baby elephant is found in Okomu National Park. T/F
2. The rangers move the baby elephant in a red plane. T/F
3. Agbaibor likes playing with water from a pipe. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put these events in order from 1 to 3:
( ) The rangers name the baby elephant Agbaibor and feed him milk.
( ) Rangers find a weak, lost baby elephant in the forest.
( ) Agbaibor plays with water from a pipe and grows happy.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. forest
2. rescue
3. park
4. truck
5. pipe
a) A long tube for water
b) A large vehicle for carrying things
c) A large area with many trees
d) To save someone from danger
e) A protected land area for nature
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
Choose the best word to complete each sentence:
1. The rangers ------- the weak elephant to safety in a truck.
a) carried
b) painted
c) sang
2. Agbaibor gets water from a pipe and ------- it around.
a) splashes
b) sleeps
c) reads
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
Unscramble the words to make correct sentences:
1. [A] baby [B] The [C] is [D] elephant [E] safe.
2. [A] plays [B] He [C] water [D] with [E] daily.
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up Answer: a) A baby elephant learns to get water from a pipe.
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) rescue
(2) truck
(3) water
(4) pipe
(5) park
Section 2: Main Idea
a
Section 3: True or False
1. T
2. F
3. T
Section 4: Put Events in Order
2, 1, 3
Section 5: Vocab Match
1-c, 2-d, 3-e, 4-b, 5-a
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. a
2. a
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. B-A-D-C-E (The baby elephant is safe.)
2. B-A-D-C-E (He plays with water daily.)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Student's own answers.
Thank you for your feedback!