VOA新闻杂志2022--为应对干旱津巴布韦迁移2500只野生动物

Zimbabwe Moves 2,500 Wild Animals Due to Climate Change

In Zimbabwe, officials have begun moving more than 2,500 wild animals from the south to the north.

This move is to rescue the animals from a severe lack of water caused by climate change. The lack of water, or drought, has now replaced illegal hunting, called poaching, as the biggest threat to wildlife.

Among the animals being moved are about 400 elephants, 2,000 impalas, 70 giraffes, 50 buffaloes¹, 50 wildebeest, 50 zebras, 50 elands, 10 lions, and a pack of 10 wild dogs.

Called "Project Rewild Zambezi," this is one of southern Africa's biggest live animal capture and relocation efforts.

What does such a huge effort look like?

A helicopter helps to round up thousands of impalas into a closed area. A mechanical device lifts medicated upside-down elephants into vehicles. Teams of rangers³ drive other animals into metal cages. Finally, a long line of trucks starts a journey of about 700 kilometers to take the animals to their new home.

It is the first time in 60 years that Zimbabwe has had such a mass movement of wildlife inside its borders.

Between 1958 and 1964, when the country was white-minority-ruled Rhodesia, more than 5,000 animals were moved in what was called "Operation Noah." That operation rescued wildlife from the rising water caused by building a large dam project on the Zambezi River. The dam created one of the world's largest man-made lakes, Lake Kariba.

This time, the lack of water has made it necessary to move wildlife. Tinashe Farawo is a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. He said the environment, or habitat, has become too dry from long periods of no rain. The park agency issued permits for the animals to be moved. He said this is to avoid "a disaster from happening."

"For years we have fought poaching and just as we are winning that war, climate change has emerged as the biggest threat to our wildlife," Farawo told The Associated Press.

He said, "Many of our parks are becoming overpopulated and there is little water or food. The animals end up destroying their own habitat...." They become a danger to themselves and to neighboring human areas as they look for food. The result, he said, is a constant "conflict."

Another idea would be to reduce the number of animals. But conservation groups protest such killings⁴. Farawo said that Zimbabwe last did this in 1987.

The effects of climate change on wildlife are not only happening in Zimbabwe. Across Africa, national parks are increasingly threatened by below-average rainfall and new building projects. These parks are home to wildlife such as lions, elephants, and buffaloes.

One of the new homes in Zimbabwe for the animals is Sapi Reserve. This privately-run reserve is east of Mana Pools National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known for its beautiful setting along the Zambezi River.

Words in This Story

relocation – n. to locate again : establish or lay out in a new place

ranger² – n. a person in charge of managing and protecting part of a public forest

journey – n. an act or instance of traveling from one place to another

emerge – v. to rise from an obscure or inferior position or condition

conservancy – n. an organization or area designated to conserve⁵ and protect natural resources

reserve – n. an area of land set apart : a nature reserve

1 buffaloes   

n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓

参考例句：

• Some medieval towns raced donkeys or buffaloes. 有些中世纪的城市用驴子或水牛竞赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Water buffaloes supply Egypt with more meat than any other domestic animal. 水牛提供给埃及的肉比任何其它动物都要多。 来自辞典例句

2 ranger   

n.国家公园管理员，护林员；骑兵巡逻队员

参考例句：

• He was the head ranger of the national park.他曾是国家公园的首席看守员。
• He loved working as a ranger.他喜欢做护林人。

3 rangers   

护林者( ranger的名词复数 )； 突击队员

参考例句：

• Do you know where the Rangers Stadium is? 你知道Rangers体育场在哪吗？ 来自超越目标英语 第3册
• Now I'm a Rangers' fan, so I like to be near the stadium. 现在我是Rangers的爱好者，所以我想离体育场近一点。 来自超越目标英语 第3册

4 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

5 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！