Level/难度等级: Level 4 CEFR ,C1,C2;国内:大学 词汇：174个
Protecting wildlife today and tomorrow
保护野生动物的今天和未来
For World Wildlife Conservation Day, we’re dropping in to visit a herd of African elephants in the Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa.
在世界野生动物保护日到来之际，我们顺道拜访了南非阿多大象国家公园的一群非洲象。
Established in 1931 to protect a small herd of just 11 African elephants, today Addo ranks as the third-largest national park out of the 19 in South Africa and provides a safe haven for about 600 of these magnificent creatures, as well as cape buffaloes, various antelope species, lions, hyenas, and endangered black rhinos.
阿多成立于1931年，目的是保护仅有11头非洲象的一小群大象。如今，阿多是南非19个国家公园中的第三大国家公园，为大约600头这些宏伟的生物以及开普敦水牛、各种羚羊物种、狮子、土狼和濒危的黑犀牛提供了安全的避难所。
The organizers of World Wildlife Conservation Day aim to raise awareness about the need to protect wildlife from illegal trafficking in animal parts and products.
世界野生动物保护日的组织者旨在提高人们对保护野生动物免受动物器官和产品非法贩运的必要性的认识。
Because animal trafficking is the most immediate threat to wild elephants, tigers and rhinos, they encourage people to pledge to avoid products derived from wildlife.
由于贩卖动物是野生大象、老虎和犀牛面临的最直接威胁，他们鼓励人们承诺避免使用野生动物产品。
Consider the African elephant.
以非洲象为例。
Both subspecies—the African savannah elephant (like these) and the smaller African forest elephant—have long been targets of poachers for their ivory tusks.
这两个亚种–非洲大草原象(像这样)和体型较小的非洲森林象–长期以来都是偷猎者的象牙目标。
Although millions of elephants once roamed Africa, today only an estimated 400,000 remain.
虽然曾经有数百万头大象在非洲漫步，但今天估计只剩下40万头。
Quiz/测验:
What kind of elephants are these?
A Indian
B Asian
C African
African
There are several physical differences between African and Asian elephants (Indian elephants are a subspecies of Asian elephants). One of the easiest ways to tell them apart is the African elephant’s larger ears. This baby African elephant and its elders live in Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa, the third-largest national park in the country. It’s home to about 600 of these magnificent—and when it comes to the calves, adorable—creatures
Which elephant typically leads an established herd?
A Herds don’t have leaders
B Bull with the biggest tusks
C Oldest and largest female
Oldest and largest female
Females usually spend their lives in close-knit family groups made up of several generations of mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters, and youngsters. Bulls lead a more solitary existence, though males do sometimes come together in bachelor herds with fluid membership rolls. Both male and female elephants exhibit complex social behaviors, including what looks a lot like grief.
Elephant ears perform what major natural function?
A Keeping sun off tusks
B Controlling body temperature
C Identifying gender
Controlling body temperature
As blood flows through those wide, flat ears, excess body heat is released. Elephants can enhance the blood-cooling by flapping their ears. But alas, even our big-eared baby can’t get airborne with a strong flap. In fact, elephants can’t even jump—they must always keep one foot on the ground to help support their immense weight.