2022-06-13 Still hope for an endangered porpoise species 濒危物种加湾鼠海豚仍有望免于灭绝

加湾鼠海豚是世界上最稀有的海洋哺乳动物。一项基因研究显示，这个濒危物种仍有望免于灭绝，尽管野生的加湾鼠海豚总数只剩10来头。

The tiny, silvery porpoise known as the vaquita is facing an existential threat from becoming entangled and killed in fishing nets. And with fewer than a dozen vaquitas left in waters off the coast of Mexico, time is running out to save the species.

这种被称作 “加湾鼠海豚” 的小巧银色鼠海豚正面临被渔网缠住致死的生存威胁。墨西哥海岸附近的水域中只剩下不到12头加湾鼠海豚，拯救这一物种的时间不多了。

But now a glimmer of hope. A study of DNA samples obtained over the past few decades suggests the animals are naturally genetically fitter than expected for such a small population and should be able to bounce back from extinction.

但现在，加湾鼠海豚仍有望免于灭绝。一项对过去几十年来获得的基因样本进行的研究表明，对数量如此稀少的种群来说，加湾鼠海豚的基因比预想得更健康，因此数量应该可以回升，从而免于灭绝。

The researchers, based in California, say we now face a choice either to enforce protection measures to save the vaquita or watch the last of the kind die out.

总部位于加利福尼亚州的研究人员说，我们现在面临一个选择：要么采取保护措施拯救加湾鼠海豚，要么眼睁睁地看着最后一头灭绝。

词汇表

silvery 银色的
existential 关乎生死的
entangled 被缠住
dozen 十二，一打
extinction 灭绝
measures 措施

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. What does the vaquita look like?

2. What things are threatening the survival of the vaquitas?

3. How many vaquitas are left in the waters off the coast of Mexico?

4. What did DNA samples reveal about the vaquita?

答案 

1. What does the vaquita look like?
The vaquita is tiny and silver-coloured.

2. What things are threatening the survival of the vaquitas?
Getting trapped and dying in fishing nets.

3. How many vaquitas are left in the waters off the coast of Mexico?
Less than a dozen.

4. What did DNA samples reveal about the vaquita?
For such a small population, they are genetically fitter than expected.