美国国家公共电台 NPR--The legacy of Hollywood mountain lion P-22 lives on in wildlife conservation efforts

The legacy¹ of Hollywood mountain lion P-22 lives on in wildlife conservation efforts

Transcript²

Los Angeles is mourning its beloved mountain lion P-22, who was euthanized over the weekend due to health issues including injuries sustained from a vehicle strike.

It's a tragic³ ending for an animal who made his name by traversing two major freeways — a dangerous and unprecedented⁴ feat⁵ — to take up a lonely residence in Griffith Park. Over his 12 years, P-22 came to symbolize⁶ the challenges facing urban wildlife as well as one particularly groundbreaking effort to protect it.

That's the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a vegetated⁷ overpass⁸ that will eventually link the Santa Monica Mountains to the Simi Hills, reconnecting an ecosystem⁹ that has long been fragmented by a major freeway.

The 210-foot crossing will span 10 lanes of the U.S.-101 Hollywood/Ventura Freeway, and is set to be the first of its kind in California and the largest in the world when it is completed in 2025. Construction on the project, supported through a public-private partnership¹⁰, started in April after decades of research and years of fundraising.

In statements mourning P-22's death, wildlife advocates, government agencies and California Gov. Gavin Newsom credited the cougar¹¹ with inspiring conservation efforts and said the Hollywood icon's legacy will live on.

"The Annenberg Wildlife Crossing did not come soon enough for P-22, but it will protect future mountain lions and other animals and ensure a safer future for them and our planet," the Annenberg Foundation said in a statement.

Beth Pratt, the California regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation¹², told Morning Edition that P-22's story both showed why such a crossing is necessary and helped to make it a reality.

"He wasn't just a celebrity¹³ influencer. He was someone who used his celebrity for good ... and put a real story to the impact of these highways," she said. "And here we are with the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing. We got donations from all over the world and it's because of him."

P-22 made his way to Hollywood from the Santa Monica Mountains by crossing two of the busiest freeways in the world, then proceeded to live in Griffith Park — "the smallest home range that has ever been recorded for an adult male mountain lion," per the National Park Service — for more than a decade.

"It's a remarkable¹⁴ story ... nobody would predict that a mountain lion would march 50 miles across two of the busiest freeways, through Beverly Hills, close to Hollywood Boulevard to make a home under the Hollywood sign," Pratt says.

He became a local legend, sometimes appearing in neighborhoods (once underneath¹⁵ an LA home) and captivating residents with his hijinks (including a dramatic recovery from rat poison).

The so-called "Brad Pitt of mountain lions" gained further notoriety after National Geographic¹⁶ published a photograph of him beneath the Hollywood Sign (right on his home turf) in 2013.

Photographer Steve Winter, who captured the now-iconic shot, told NPR's All Things Considered this week that he was blown away by the reaction to the image, and is confident P-22's legacy will live on.

"I think we owe it to P-22 and all California wildlife to build more crossings and to connect more habitat. That's what is needed," he said. "I mean, now they're teaching wildlife and P-22 in the greater LA school district. And every Oct. 22 is P-22 Day in LA. His legacy will live for years, if not decades, to come. No one's going to forget P-22."

P-22's solitary¹⁷ survival story inspired many in LA and beyond. But, as the National Park Service said, he was "more than just a celebrity cat."

"He was also a critical part of a long-term research study and a valuable ambassador for the cause of connectivity and for wildlife in the Santa Monica Mountains and beyond," it said, adding that scientists will continue to analyze¹⁸ his data for years to come.

Pratt — who has a P-22 tattoo¹⁹ and a wardrobe of items with his face on them — told Morning Edition that the mountain lion also helped connect people to each other, and to "the wild world that needs saving."

"That cat, through inspiring us, showed us what was possible," she said. "He made us more human. He made us realize, even in the second-largest city in the country, that we needed a connection to wildlife."

The wildlife crossing addresses a longstanding problem

Decades of research underscore the need for a wildlife crossing to protect the flora²⁰ and fauna²¹ of the Santa Monica Mountains, which have been isolated²² by development and highly trafficked roads.

At least 29 mountain lions have been killed by vehicles in the park service's study area — which includes the Santa Monica range, Simi Hills, Santa Susana Mountains, Verdugo Mountains and Griffith Park — since 2002, and at least four have died on roadways this year alone.

A 1990 study commissioned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy identified this particular site — the Liberty Canyon²³ Wildlife Crossing — as the necessary place to connect the mountains in order to prevent the local mountain lion population from extinction²⁴. Over the next three decades, the conservancy and other partners acquired much of that land (which had been largely privately²⁵ owned) to make it possible to link the two areas.

"The purpose of the project is to provide a safe and sustainable passage for wildlife across US-101 near Liberty Canyon Road in the City of Agoura Hills that reduces wildlife death and allows for the movement of animals and the exchange of genetic²⁶ material," the conservancy explains. "Without a safe and sustainable wildlife crossing, movement between these remaining areas of natural habitat is severely²⁷ restricted and wildlife within the Santa Monica Mountains is essentially²⁸ trapped."

Pratt explains that as it stands, the isolation²⁹ of the Santa Monica Mountains creates a sort of "extinction vortex" where mountain lions are trapped (P-22 was one of the few to make it out alive) and forced to breed with their own family members, diminishing their genetic diversity and risking future generations' ability to reproduce.

Advocates hope the crossing will help protect and promote ecological³⁰ connectivity not just for mountain lions, but other forms of wildlife from bobcats to birds to lizards³¹. It will offer safe passage for these animals to meet — and reproduce with — more members of their species. Pratt says it's especially important for the mountain range to be resilient in the face of threats like climate change and wildfires.

The question is: What will make such a crossing appealing to animals who may be wary³² of the roaring traffic?

Pratt says it's going to be covered with vegetation, to help minimize the sound and light from outside and essentially trick the creatures into thinking they're not walking over a freeway. Picture a "beautiful ecosystem" with "trees and butterflies flying over it," she says.

"And what I love to imagine is here we are in one of the busiest commuter³³ roads and you're going to have people commuting³⁴, you know, (300,000) to 400,000 cars a day," she adds. "And once this is finished, while they're doing that, they're going to be driving under the structure [and] a mountain lion will be crossing over. That, to me, is pretty hopeful."

1 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

4 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

5 feat   

n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的

参考例句：

• Man's first landing on the moon was a feat of great daring.人类首次登月是一个勇敢的壮举。
• He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。

6 symbolize   

vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表

参考例句：

• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
• Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。

7 vegetated   

v.过单调呆板的生活( vegetate的过去式和过去分词 )；植物似地生长；（瘤、疣等）长大

参考例句：

• The bacterial growth vegetated along. 细菌的生长繁殖很快。 来自互联网
• They vegetated the hills behind their house. 他们在他们的屋后的山上种植被。 来自互联网

8 overpass   

n.天桥，立交桥

参考例句：

• I walked through an overpass over the road.我步行穿过那条公路上面的立交桥。
• We should take the overpass when crossing the road.我们过马路应走天桥。

9 ecosystem   

n.生态系统

参考例句：

• This destroyed the ecosystem of the island.这样破坏了岛上的生态系统。
• We all have an interest in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.维持生态系统的完整是我们共同的利益。

10 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

11 cougar   

n.美洲狮；美洲豹

参考例句：

• I saw a cougar slinking toward its prey.我看到一只美洲狮正在潜随猎物。
• I have never seen a cougar.我从未见过美洲豹。

12 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

13 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

14 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

15 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

16 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

17 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

18 analyze   

vt.分析，解析 (=analyse)

参考例句：

• We should analyze the cause and effect of this event.我们应该分析这场事变的因果。
• The teacher tried to analyze the cause of our failure.老师设法分析我们失败的原因。

19 tattoo   

n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于

参考例句：

• I've decided to get my tattoo removed.我已经决定去掉我身上的纹身。
• He had a tattoo on the back of his hand.他手背上刺有花纹。

20 flora   

n.(某一地区的)植物群

参考例句：

• The subtropical island has a remarkably rich native flora.这个亚热带岛屿有相当丰富的乡土植物种类。
• All flora need water and light.一切草木都需要水和阳光。

21 fauna   

n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物，动物区系

参考例句：

• This National Park is an area with unique fauna and flora.该国家公园区域内具有独特的动物种群和植物种群。
• Fauna is a biological notion means all the animal life in a particular region or period. 动物群是一个生物学的概念，指的是一个特定时期或者地区的所有动物。

22 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

23 canyon   

n.峡谷，溪谷

参考例句：

• The Grand Canyon in the USA is 1900 metres deep.美国的大峡谷1900米深。
• The canyon is famous for producing echoes.这个峡谷以回声而闻名。

24 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

25 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

26 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

27 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

28 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

29 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

30 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

31 lizards   

n.蜥蜴( lizard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nothing lives in Pompeii except crickets and beetles and lizards. 在庞培城里除了蟋蟀、甲壳虫和蜥蜴外，没有别的生物。 来自辞典例句
• Can lizards reproduce their tails? 蜥蜴的尾巴断了以后能再生吗？ 来自辞典例句

32 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

33 commuter   

n.(尤指市郊之间)乘公交车辆上下班者

参考例句：

• Police cordoned off the road and diverted commuter traffic. 警察封锁了道路并分流交通。
• She accidentally stepped on his foot on a crowded commuter train. 她在拥挤的通勤列车上不小心踩到了他的脚。

34 commuting   

交换（的）

参考例句：

• I used the commuting time to read and answer my mail. 我利用上下班在汽车中的时间来阅读和答复给我的函电。
• Noncommuting objects are as real to the mathematicians as commuting objects. 对于数学家来说，不可交换的对象与可交换的对象是一样真实的。