一個公益組織釋放500條幼鯊以挽救瀕危的野生斑馬鯊

昝亞娟

A new international organization consisting of partners from 15 countries and 44 aquariums， is challenging the diminishing shark statistics. According to National Geographic， ReSharks goal is to release 500 endangered zebra sharks in Indonesian waters to revive a self-sustaining wild population that is on the brink of extinction.

This is the first-ever attempt to reintroduce captive sharks into the wild， unlike land animals such as California condors and giant pandas in China that have been successfully reintroduced in the past.

“Its such a milestone，” Nesha Ichida， an Indonesian marine scientist helping manage this work for ReShark， told National Geographic. “This is such a hopeful， momentous moment.”

In January， Ichida kneeled in a picturesque turquoise lagoon located in Indonesias Raja Ampat archipelago， tenderly cradling a baby zebra shark named Charlie， the first captive animal to be released into these waters. Charlie was named after a West Papuan provincial official who had championed the project. The shark was adorned with a combination of light stripes and circles that spiraled down its seemingly endless tail.

This 15-week-old zebra shark， similar to its counterparts， develops in an egg， which is also referred to as a mermaids purse. This egg was laid at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium in Australia and transported to Indonesia， where it was hatched in a newly established shark nursery.

Although the zebra shark population is thriving in the Pacific Ocean off North Queensland， the species is almost extinct in Raja Ampat， located 1，500 miles northwest， due to the global shark trade. Only three zebra sharks were spotted during 15，000 hours of research conducted between 2001 and 2021.

“Im feeling very hopeful that Charlie is going to be the ambassador for all shark species，” Ichida told The Daily Mail， as she released Charlie. Raja Ampat was selected due to its globally acclaimed conservation success as Asias first shark and ray sanctuary.

（材料出自“Goodnet”網站，有刪改）

1. Why will 500 zebra sharks will be put in Indonesian waters？

A. To promote the development of local tourism.

B. To attract more tourists to the aquariums.

C. To prevent zebra sharks from dying out.

D. To increase the number of species in the ocean.

2. Why are condors and giant pandas mentioned in Paragraph 2？

A. To prove the success of reintroducing captive animals into the wild.

B. To illustrate the successful reproduction of extinct animals.

C. To present good examples international cooperation.

D. To show the necessity of protecting wild animals.

3.What is Nesha Ichidas attitude towards ReShark？

A. Disapproving. B. Supportive.

C. Critical.D. Unconcerned.

4. What caused the number of zebra sharks to decline？

A. Human activities.B. Climate change.

C. Loss of habitats. D. Broken food chains.

1.C。解析：細節理解題。根據材料第一段中的“ReSharks goal is to release 500 endangered zebra sharks in Indonesian waters to revive a self-sustaining wild population that is on the brink of extinction”，我們可知，ReShark的目標是在印度尼西亞水域放生500只瀕臨滅絕的斑馬鯊，以拯救瀕臨滅絕的野生種群。故最佳答案為C。

2.A。解析：推理判斷題。根據材料第二段，我們可知，這是有史以來第一次嘗試將圈養的鯊魚放歸野外，不像過去成功放歸過加州禿鷲和中國大熊貓等陸生動物。因此，第二段提到加州禿鷲和中國大熊貓是因為它們是挽救瀕危物種的成功事例。故最佳答案為A。

3.B。解析：推理判斷題。根據材料第三段Nesha Ichida說的話（“Its such a milestone”和“This is such a hopeful， momentous moment.”），我們可推斷出Nesha Ichida支持這項活動。故最佳答案為B。

4.A。解析：推理判斷題。根據材料第六段，我們可知，由于全球鯊魚貿易，斑馬鯊的數量急劇減少，瀕臨滅絕。故最佳答案為A。