12 - 6 minute - Pygmy hippo.pdf - BBC 6Minute English - Pingwiny-Z-Madagaskaru

Pygmy hippo

A pygmy hippo in London Zoo

This week, we hear how a rare and endangered species of animal, the pygmy hippopotamus (or

'hippo' for short), has been found in Liberia.

This week's question: In addition to the threat of deforestation, the pygmy hippo also faces the

threat of 'poaching'. Which of these definitions of the verb 'to poach' are NOT true?

a) 'to catch and kill animals without permission on someone else's land'

b) 'to take something that belongs to someone else, usually an idea, and use it for yourself'

c) 'to persuade someone who works for someone else to come and work for you'

Vocabulary from the programme

habitat

the natural surroundings in which an animal or plant usually lives

deforestation

the cutting down of trees in a large area, the destruction of forests by people

pygmy

smaller than the usual type

miniature

extremely small

shy

nervous

elusive

difficult to find

cryptic

mysterious

nocturnal

active during the night

12 - 6 minute - Pygmy hippo.pdf