Inside the $5 Billion Industry Built on Bird Saliva Soup
put one’s life on the line: to risk being killed
In the Philippines, a group of men follow an old tradition that marries danger with delicacy. They climb very high seaside cliffs looking for a special kind of bird’s nest. This nest is made from bird saliva and is very rare. People in Asia use these nests to make expensive bird nest soup, costing up to $100 a bowl.
One man, Alvin, and his family have been doing this job for years. They travel to a small island and climb dangerously high rocks to find the nests. These nests are very valuable. Two pounds can sell for $2900, and worldwide, this is a 5 billion dollar industry. However, this job can be very dangerous. Some climbers have fallen, including Alvin’s brother-in-law, who died. These men put their lives on the line, but there is another way.
In Borneo, instead of climbing, people make the birds come to them. They build large concrete birdhouses to encourage the birds to build their nests. These houses are temperature-controlled, have bird baths, and offer safety from predators. While they look austere from the outside, for the birds, they are luxury living.
Sample sentences
1. Firefighters put their lives on the line every day to save others.
2. The lifeguard put his life on the line to rescue the child from the rough sea.
3. During the war, soldiers put their lives on the line to protect their country.
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