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Animal conservation
Many animal and plant species have become extinct and many more are in critical danger. Finding ways to protect the earth's wildlife and conserve1 the natural world they inhabit is now more important than ever.
Extinction is a natural process. Many species had ceased to exist before humans evolved. However, in the last 400 years, the number of animals and plants becoming extinct has reached crisis point. Human population levels have risen dramatically in the same time period and man's predatory instincts combined with his ruthless consumption of natural resources are directly responsible for the situation.
Dodo
The Dodo is a classic example of how human behavior can cause irreparable damage to the earth's biological diversity. The flightless Dodo was native to the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It lived off fruit fallen from the island's trees and lived unthreatened until humans arrived in 1505. The docile3 bird became a source of food for sailors and lacked the ability to protect itself from animals introduced to the island by humans such as pigs, monkeys and rats. The population of Dodos rapidly decreased and the last one was killed in 1681.
Endangered Animals
In 2002 many animals remain threatened with extinction as a result of human activity. The World Wildlife Fund works tirelessly to raise awareness4 of the predicament facing these animals and find ways to protect them. By focusing on a number of high profile, 'charismatic icons5' such as the rhino6, panda, whale and tiger, the WWF aims to communicate, 'critically important environmental issues'. The organization's ultimate goal is to, 'stop the degradation7 of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature'.
The Rhino horn is a highly prized item for practitioners9 of Asian medicine. This has led to the animal being relentlessly10 hunted in its natural habitat. Once widespread in Africa and Eurasia, most rhinos now live in protected natural parks and reserves. Their numbers have rapidly decreased in the last 50 years, over half the remaining rhinos disappeared in the 1970s, and the animals remain under constant threat from poachers.
The Giant Panda
The future of the WWF's symbol is far from certain. As few as 1000 remain in the wild, living in small isolated11 groups. These groups have been cut off from each other as a result of deforestation and human expansion in to their natural habitat. The Chinese government has set up 33 panda reserves to protect these beautiful animals and made poaching them punishable with 20 years in prison. However, the panda's distinct black and white patched coat fetches a high price on the black market and determined12 poachers still pose one of the most serious threats to the animals continued existence.
Whales
The International Whaling Commission meets every year. The agenda covers ways to ensure the survival of the species and the complex problems arising from countries such as Japan, wishing to hunt certain whales for 'scientific' purposes. Despite the fact that one third of the world's oceans have been proclaimed whale sanctuaries13, 7 out of 13 whale species remain endangered. The plight14 of the North Atlantic Right Whale is particularly serious. Hunted for their rich supply of oil, their numbers have dwindled15 to just 300. Collisions with ships, toxic16 pollution and becoming entangled17 in fishing nets are other major causes of whale deaths.
Tigers
The last 100 years has seen a 95% reduction in the numbers of remaining tigers to between 5000 and 7000 and The Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers are already extinct. The South China tiger is precariously18 close to disappearing, with only 20 to 30 still alive. Like the Rhino horn, tiger bones and organs are sought after for traditional Chinese medicines. These items are traded illegally along with tiger skins.
Take Action
The WWF is actively19 involved in many areas of the world fighting to protect the natural habitats of endangered animals from further damage and curb20 the activities of poachers. They also work to influence governments and policy makers21 to introduce laws aimed at reducing the threat of pollution and deforestation. Our own individual efforts at home and in the workplace can also make a difference. By reducing waste and pollution, saving water, wood and energy, and reusing and recycling whenever possible, we can reduce the possibility of even more animals being lost, never to return.
点击收听单词发音
1 conserve | |
vt.保存,保护,节约,节省,守恒,不灭 | |
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2 extinction | |
n.熄灭,消亡,消灭,灭绝,绝种 | |
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3 docile | |
adj.驯服的,易控制的,容易教的 | |
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4 awareness | |
n.意识,觉悟,懂事,明智 | |
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5 icons | |
n.偶像( icon的名词复数 );(计算机屏幕上表示命令、程序的)符号,图像 | |
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6 rhino | |
n.犀牛,钱, 现金 | |
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7 degradation | |
n.降级;低落;退化;陵削;降解;衰变 | |
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8 rhinos | |
n.犀牛(rhino的复数形式) | |
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9 practitioners | |
n.习艺者,实习者( practitioner的名词复数 );从业者(尤指医师) | |
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10 relentlessly | |
adv.不屈不挠地;残酷地;不间断 | |
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11 isolated | |
adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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12 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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13 sanctuaries | |
n.避难所( sanctuary的名词复数 );庇护;圣所;庇护所 | |
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14 plight | |
n.困境,境况,誓约,艰难;vt.宣誓,保证,约定 | |
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15 dwindled | |
v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16 toxic | |
adj.有毒的,因中毒引起的 | |
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17 entangled | |
adj.卷入的;陷入的;被缠住的;缠在一起的v.使某人(某物/自己)缠绕,纠缠于(某物中),使某人(自己)陷入(困难或复杂的环境中)( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18 precariously | |
adv.不安全地;危险地;碰机会地;不稳定地 | |
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19 actively | |
adv.积极地,勤奋地 | |
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20 curb | |
n.场外证券市场,场外交易;vt.制止,抑制 | |
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21 makers | |
n.制造者,制造商(maker的复数形式) | |
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