2020-08-17 Other mammals lose out in panda conservation drive 大熊猫保护区内大型捕食动物数量下降

拯救大熊猫是野生动物保护的一大成功案例。经过几十年来的努力，人们为这个标志性的哺乳动物创造了保护区，将它们从灭绝的边缘拉了回来。但根据一项新的研究，虽然同一地区的许多其它动物从这项保护工作中受益，但有些动物却很吃亏。

Giant pandas are living proof that conservation works. Their numbers in the wild are recovering after years of decline, and protecting the mountain forests in which they live has been good for many other animals, including birds and small carnivores.

大熊猫是保护工作行之有效的活生生的例证。野生大熊猫的数量在连续多年下降后开始回升，而保护它们所生活的山地森林对许多其它动物，包括鸟类和小型食肉动物，都是有益的。 

Yet, according to a new study, it’s a different story for larger predators such as leopards and wolves. Asian wild dogs have disappeared from 95% of areas set up to protect pandas, leopards and wolves from more than three quarters, and snow leopards from almost half. Scientists in China say these four carnivores are being driven to near extinction by poaching and destruction of the habitat they need to hunt over large distances. 

然而，根据一项新的研究，对于像豹和狼这样的大型捕食者来说，情况则有所不同了。豺犬已从95% 的大熊猫保护区消失，豹和狼已从超过四分之三的大熊猫保护区消失，而雪豹已从近一半面积的大熊猫保护区消失。中国科学家们表示，这四种食肉动物因偷猎破坏了它们远距离捕猎所需的栖息地而濒临灭绝。

Conservation efforts have often been based on protecting specific flagship species such as the panda. But experts argue for a more holistic approach that aims to protect whole ecosystems, rather than focusing on a single species.

野生动物保护工作通常基于保护特定的重要物种，比如熊猫。但专家们认为应采取一种更全面的方法来保护整个生态系统，而不只是关注单一物种。

词汇

living proof 活生生的证明
conservation 动物保护
carnivores 食肉动物
predators 捕食者，食肉动物
Asian wild dogs 豺，豺犬
snow leopards 雪豹
poaching 偷猎
flagship 最重要的，最主要的
holistic 全面的，整体的
ecosystems 生态系统

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. True or false. The numbers of wild pandas are on the rise.

2. What types of animals have benefited from protecting the mountain forests where giant pandas live?

3. What are the four larger predators being driven to near extinction by poaching and destruction of their much-needed habitats?

4. According to experts, what type of conservation efforts should be taken?

答案

1. True or false. The numbers of wild pandas are on the rise.
True. The numbers of wild pandas are recovering after years of decline.

2. What types of animals have benefited from protecting the mountain forests where giant pandas live? 
Animals that also live in the mountain forests, such as birds and small carnivores.

3. What are the four larger predators being driven to near extinction by poaching and destruction of their much-needed habitats? 
They are leopards, wolves, Asian wild dogs, and snow leopards.

4. According to experts, what type of conservation efforts should be taken?
Experts argue for a more holistic approach that aims to protect whole ecosystems, rather than focusing on single species.