消失的长颈鹿 The Disappearing Giraffes

The number of giraffes has 【 dropped by 】 as much as 40 percent since the 1980s.

下降了

自20世纪80年代以来,长颈鹿的数减少了40% ,

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says a new report on endangered species.

一份新发布的关于濒危物种的报告指出。

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The Red List is a study of threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

国际自然保护联盟的“红色名录”针对濒危物种展开研究。

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The group now 【 considers the giraffe <"vulnerable" 】to> extinction for the first time.

认为……怎么样 consider sth.+adj.

易于受……伤害 vulnerable to sth. Eg: He is vulnerable to other people's harsh words.

现在,该组织认为长颈鹿首次进入易危级别。

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Earlier, it had 【 a rating of 】 "【 least concern 】."

……的评级 

无危险物种

早前,它的评级是“无危”。

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The giraffe is the tallest animal on land.

长颈鹿是陆地上最高的动物。

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These beautiful creatures are one of the best-known species in Africa.

这些美丽的生物是非洲最著名的物种之一。

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They are known for their very long necks.

它们以修长的脖子，

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long legs and the brown and white patterns that cover their bodies

长腿和花盖身体的棕色和白色图案闻名。

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Craig Hilton-Taylor is head of the Red List program.

克雷格希尔顿泰勒(Craig Hilton-Taylor)是红色名录项目的负责人。

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He says in 1985, there were between 152,000 and163,000 giraffes.

他指出，在1985年，长颈鹿有152000到163000只。

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But now, he tells VOA, their numbers have fallen to about 98,000.

但现在,他告诉VOA ,它们的数已经减少到大约98000只。

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What is causing this decrease?

是什么导致了长颈鹿数量的减少？

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Hilton-Taylor says: humans.

泰勒说:“人类”。

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He says pollution and the effects of climate change

他说，污染和气候变化

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are just a few of the other problems affecting the species,

只是影响该物种的其中一小部分问题。

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Some people are 【 moving into protected areas 】

搬去被保护的区域

由于缺乏降水,粮食生产受到影响,

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where giraffes and other animals live because of 【 a lack of rain 】 that affects food production.

雨水的缺乏

一些人搬到了长颈鹿和其他动物生活的保护区。

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Sometimes the graceful, plant-eating animals are

有时，为了得到它们的肉，这种优雅、以植物为食的动物会被捕杀。

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Also, civil wars and unrest in Africa make it more difficult to protect the animals.

非洲的内战和动乱也使得这些动物的保护更加困难。

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It is harder to do 【 conservation work 】-to protect the animals in danger-in areas of 【 armed conflict 】.

保护工作

武装冲突

在武装冲突地区开展保护工作，保护这些濒危动物,变得更加困难

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Hilton-Taylor says the fact the giraffe is now listed as vulnerable

泰勒说,长颈鹿现在被列为易危动物,

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means that it has "【 a high risk of  】【 going extinct in the wild 】 unless we do something about it."

……有高风险

在野外灭绝

这意味着"除非我们采取措施,否则长颈鹿在野外灭绝的风险很高”。

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But, he says giraffes can be helped.

但是他提到,长颈鹿是可以得到保护的。

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Some of the ideas that work include community involvement and tourism,

可行的方法包括社区介入和旅游业。

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Tourism, for example, provides jobs for local residents.

比如,旅游业能为当地居民提供就业机会。

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He also says there needs to be a giraffe 【 action plan 】 【 put in place 】

行动方案

（被）落实 be put in place

Eg：The sales plan has been put in place by the marketing department.

他还指出，我们需要制定保护长颈鹿的行动计划,

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to observe and survey the animals across the continent of Africa.

以观测和调查整个非洲大陆的长颈鹿。

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Hilton-Taylor adds that finding answers to the problems people face,

泰勒补充说,找到解决人类面临问题的答案，

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like drought linked to climate change, food shortages and civil unrest,

如气候变化引起的干旱、粮食短缺和内乱,

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will provide answers to help giraffes.

也将为保护长颈鹿提供答案。

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