1.2 Meet Nania
A. Meet Nania
Read or Listen to Nania’s Story:
Nania is a forest elephant from Burkina Faso. That’s a country in West Africa. When Nania was a baby she was separated from her mother. We don’t know how she was lost or separated. Nania was found alone when she was 2-3 months old. Children at a local school called her Nania. That means “will.” They named her Nania because she had a “will” to survive or live.
It’s lucky Nania was found because baby elephants cannot live on their own. Like human babies, they need someone to care for them. Baby elephants drink their mothers milk until they are 2 years old.
A group of humans have become Nania’s new family. They take care of her everyday. They are teaching her how to be an elephant so that they can return Nania to the wild when she is older.
Map It:
Directions: Can you find Burkina Faso on the map?
B. Video: Nania and Salif
Directions: Everyday 96 adult elephants are killed. When a mother dies, the baby often dies too! People are trying to help elephants. They try to stop killings. They also help protect babies who have lost their family.
Watch this video to meet Nania and her keeper Salif. Salif is a man who spends his time caring for Nania and helping her learn how to be a grown-up elephant.
As you watch, think about:
- What are Nania’s needs?
- How does Salif meet those needs?
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