10 Easy Things You Can Do to Save Endangered Species 舉手之勞拯救瀕危物種

譯/徐靈瑤 審訂/魏家海

10 Easy Things You Can Do to Save Endangered Species 舉手之勞拯救瀕危物種

譯/徐靈瑤 審訂/魏家海

1. Learn about endangered species in your area.

Teach your friends and family about the wonderful wildlife, birds, fish and plants that live near you. The first step to protecting endangered species is learning about how interesting and important they are. Our natural world provides us with many indispensable services including clean air and water, food and medicinal sources,commercial, and aesthetic benefits.

2. Visit a national wildlife refuge, park or other open space.

These protected lands provide habitat to many native wildlife, birds, fish and plants. Scientists tell us the best way to protect endangered species is to protect the places where they live. Get involved by volunteering at your local nature center or wildlife refuge. Go wildlife or bird watching in nearby parks. Wildlife related recreation creates millions of jobs and supports local businesses.

1.了解所在地區的瀕危物種。

向朋友和家人介紹附近奇妙的野生動物、鳥類、魚類和植物。保護瀕危物種，首先要了解它們是多么有趣和重要。自然界賜予了我們許多不可或缺之物：潔凈的空氣和水、食物和藥物資源，以及商業利益、審美享受等。

2. 參觀國家野生動物保護區、公園或其他公共空間。

這些保護區是許多當地野生動物、鳥類、魚類和植物的棲息地。科學家告訴我們，保護瀕危物種的最好方法就是保護它們的棲息地。參加當地的自然中心或野生動物保護區的志愿者活動。到附近的公園去觀察野生動物或鳥類。與野生動物相關的旅游休閑產業創造了數以百萬計的工作崗位，并扶持了當地的商業發展。

3. Make your home wildlife friendly.

Secure garbage in shelters or cans with locking lids, feed pets indoors and lock pet doors at night to avoid attracting wild animals into your home. Reduce your use of water in your home and garden so that animals that live in or near water can have a better chance of survival. Disinfect bird baths often to avoid disease transmission.Place decals on windows to deter bird collisions. Millions of birds die every year because of collisions with windows. You can help reduce the number of collisions simply by placing decals on the windows in your home and office.

3. 創建出對野生動物友好的環境。

確保垃圾有遮蓋物或放在帶鎖蓋的罐中，在室內飼養寵物，夜間鎖住寵物門，以避免將野生動物引入家中。減少自家和花園用水，好讓水生動物或近水動物擁有更多的生存機會。為避免疾病傳播，經常對鳥池進行消毒。在窗戶上貼花，以防止鳥碰撞，因為每年數百萬只鳥死于撞窗。你可以在家里和辦公室的窗戶上貼花，來減少碰撞的次數。

4. Native plants provide food and shelter for native wildlife.

Attracting native insects like bees and butterflies can help pollinate your plants. The spread of non-native species has greatly impacted native populations around the world. Invasive species compete with native species for resources and habitat. They can even prey on native species directly, forcing native species towards extinction.

4. 當地植物為當地野生動物提供食物和棲息地。

吸引蜜蜂和蝴蝶這類本地昆蟲可以幫助植物授粉。非本地物種的擴散已經極大地影響到世界各地當地物種的數量。入侵物種與本土物種爭奪資源和棲息地，它們甚至可以直接捕食本地物種，導致本地物種滅絕。

5. Herbicides and pesticides may keep yards looking nice but they are in fact hazardous pollutants that affect wildlife at many levels.

Many herbicides and pesticides take a long time to degrade in the soils. Predators such as hawks, owls and coyotes can be harmed if they eat poisoned animals. Some groups of animals such as amphibians are particularly vulnerable to these chemical pollutants and suffer greatly as a result of the high levels of herbicides and pesticides in their habitat.

6. Slow down when driving.

Many animals live in developed areas and this means they must navigate a landscape full of human hazards. One of the biggest obstacles to wildlife living in developed areas is roads. Roads divide habitat and present a constant hazard to any animal attempting to cross from one side to the other. So when you’re out and about, slow down and keep an eye out for wildlife.

7. Recycle and buy sustainable products.

Buy recycled paper, sustainable products like bamboo and Forest Stewardship Council wood products to protect forest species.Never buy furniture made from wood from rainforests.Recycle your cell phones, because a mineral used in cell phones and other electronics is mined in gorilla habitat.Minimize your use of palm oil because forests where tigers live are being cut down to plant palm plantations.

5. 除草劑和殺蟲劑可以美化庭院，但實際上是有害的污染物，會對野生動物產生多方面的影響。

許多除草劑和殺蟲劑在土壤中需要很長時間才能降解。像鷹、貓頭鷹、土狼這類食肉動物一旦捕食了中毒的動物，就會受到傷害。某些動物，如兩棲動物，特別容易受到這些化學污染物的影響，由于棲息地的除草劑和殺蟲劑含量很高，它們遭受了極大的痛苦。

6. 減速慢行。

許多動物生活在已開發的區域，這意味著它們必須在充滿人類威脅的環境中生存。道路是在該區域生活的野生動物面對的最大障礙之一。道路分隔了棲息地，這對任何試圖穿越棲息地的動物造成持續的威脅。因此，戶外駕駛時須減速，小心野生動物。

7. 回收和購買可持續性產品。

購買再生紙、竹制品等可持續性產品，以及森林管理委員會認證的木制品等，以保護森林物種。千萬別買采自雨林的木材做成的家具。手機應回收，因為手機和其他電子產品使用的一種礦物材料是在大猩猩棲息地開采的。減少棕櫚油的使用，因為為了種植油棕樹，老虎棲息的森林正被砍伐。

8. Never purchase products made from threatened or endangered species.

Overseas trips can be exciting and fun, and everyone wants a souvenir.But sometimes the souvenirs are made from species nearing extinction. Avoid supporting the market in illegal wildlife including: tortoise-shell, ivory, coral.Also, be careful of products including fur from tigers, polar bears, sea otters and other endangered wildlife,crocodile skin, live monkeys or apes,most live birds including parrots,macaws, cockatoos and finches, some live snakes, turtles and lizards, some orchids, cacti and cycads, medicinal products made from rhinos, tiger or Asiatic black bear.

8.永遠不購買瀕危物種制成品。

海外旅行既刺激又有趣，大家都想買紀念品。但有時紀念品正是瀕危物種制品。避免支持非法野生動物交易，包括玳瑁、象牙、珊瑚等。此外，需注意的產品還有老虎、北極熊、海獺和其他瀕危野生動物的皮毛，鱷魚皮；活猴或活猿；大多數活鳥，包括各類鸚鵡如金剛鸚鵡、葵花鸚鵡和雀類；某些活蛇、烏龜、蜥蜴；某些蘭花、仙人掌、蘇鐵；犀牛、老虎或亞洲黑熊制成的藥品。

9. Harassing wildlife is cruel and illegal.

Shooting, trapping, or forcing a threatened or endangered animal into captivity is also illegal and can lead to their extinction. Don’t participate in this activity, and report it as soon as you see it to your local state or federal wildlife enforcement office.

10. Protect wildlife habitat.

Perhaps the greatest threat that faces many species is the widespread destruction of habitat. Scientists tell us the best way to protect endangered species is to protect the special places where they live. Wildlife must have places to find food, shelter and raise their young. Logging, oil and gas drilling,over-grazing and development all result habitat destruction. Endangered species habitat should be protected and these impacts minimized.

By protecting habitat, entire communities of animals and plants can be protected together. Parks, wildlife refuges, and other open space should be protected near your community. Open space also provides us with great places to visit and enjoy. Support wildlife habitat and open space protection in your community. When you are buying a house, consider your impact on wildlife habitat.

9.侵擾野生動物既殘酷又違法。

射殺、誘捕、強制圈養瀕危野生動物既違法又會導致該物種的滅絕。堅決不要參與此類活動，一旦發現，應立即向本州或聯邦野生動物執法部門報告。

10.保護野生動物棲息地。

或許大多數物種面臨的最大威脅就是棲息地遭到大規模的破壞。科學家告訴我們，保護瀕危物種的最佳方法就是保護它們賴以生存的地方。野生動物必須有覓食、棲息、繁衍之地。伐木、石油和天然氣開采、過度放牧和開發都造成棲息地的破壞。瀕危物種的棲息地應該受到保護，那些不良影響應該降至最小程度。

通過保護棲息地，動物和植物的整個群體都可以得到保護。社區附近的公園、野生動物保護區和其他公共空間應受到保護。公共空間也是良好的觀光和休閑之地，因此要支持社區關于野生動物棲息地和公共空間的保護行動。購房時應考慮對野生動物棲息地的影響。

（譯者單位：華中師范大學）