VOA常速英语2014--US, World Act to Save Elephants 美国,世界采取行动拯救大象（在线收听）

US, World Act to Save Elephants 美国,世界采取行动拯救大象

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has unveiled a comprehensive strategy for combating wildlife trafficking in hopes of curbing illicit poaching that is threatening to wipe out elephants, rhinoceros and other endangered species in Africa. The document issued Tuesday places an almost complete ban on the ivory trade in the United States. Meanwhile, representatives of many African countries are meeting with world's leading conservationists in London to discuss how to stop the illegal sale of ivory.

A large pile of ivory was crushed in central London as a symbolic gesture, ahead of a major summit this week aimed at curbing illegal wildlife trade.

在本周旨在遏制非法野生动物贸易的主要峰会召开前，作为表态一大堆象牙在伦敦市中心被粉碎。

Rowena Paxton was among citizens who gave away their ivory items to be crushed.

罗威娜·帕克斯顿是拿出象牙物品用于粉碎的其中一位市民。

"I feel like a big weight has been taken off me and I'm now to say goodbye and I just say please, please save our elephants, save our rhino," said Paxton.

“我感觉身上的重担已被卸下,我现在跟它道别,我只是要说,请救救我们的大象,救救我们的犀牛,”帕克斯顿说道。

A 1989 ban outlawed the international trade in ivory, but cross-border smuggling continues.

1989的一项禁令宣布国际象牙贸易为非法,但跨境走私仍在继续。

美国,世界采取行动拯救大象.jpgConservationists estimate that more than 25,000 elephants are killed across Africa each year so their tusks can be extracted for ivory.

据环保人士估计,每年超过25000头非洲大象被杀害,其象牙被拔出用于制作象牙制品。

French customs official Sebastien Tiran said France seizes at least a half-ton of ivory per year.

法国海关官员塞巴斯蒂安·蒂朗称法国每年截获至少半吨象牙。

"What we have noticed regarding trafficking of protected species is that there is a lot of change, but one thing that never changes is the interest of consumers for ivory," said Tiran.

“我们已经注意到尽管关于走私保护动物发生了很多改变,但有一件事从未改变,那就是是消费者对于象牙制品的兴趣,”蒂朗说道。

To curb the illegal ivory trade, experts said it is important to reduce the demand.

为了遏制非法象牙贸易,专家表示减少需求才是至关重要的。

Many blame China for the continued large ivory trade.

很多人指责中国继续的大宗象牙贸易。

Some residents of Hong Kong hold annual protests against the practice.

香港居民举行一年一度的抗议反对这种做法。

"I think Chinese people's idea about this kind of animal product is changing.

“我认为中方人民对于这种动物制品的观念正在改变。

It's not like before, we are changing,” said Amy Wang, a woman from mainland China living in Hong Kong.

不像以往,我们正在改变,”来自中国大陆在香港生活的女性艾米·王说道。

Destruction of the existing stockpile is another way of undermining the trade, although some people say it also makes the ivory more expensive.

破坏现有的存货量是另一种杜绝这种贸易的方式,虽然有人表示这使得象牙制品更加昂贵。

The World Wildlife Fund reported that the price of ivory in China has reached $2,000 per kilogram.

世界野生动物基金会报道称中国的象牙价格已经达到了每公斤2000美元。

China has cracked down on smugglers recently and has joined the United States, France, Britain and others in destroying illegal ivory stockpiles.

中国最近打击走私者们而且已经加入到美国、法国、英国等其他国家破坏非法象牙库存的行列中。

French Minister of Ecology Phillippe Martin said it is an important gesture.

法国生态部长菲利普·马丁称这是一种重要的表态。

"The fact that China crushed, as we do today, six tons of seized ivory is very important because there are consumers in China, so our message to traffickers is-this is our statement, and to consumers-this isn't worth anything; elephants should be protected in Africa," said Martin.

“中国打击走私者,就像我们现在做的一样,六吨的象牙制品非常重要,因为在中国有消费者,所以我们向走私者传达出一种消息—这是我们的声明,而对于消费者们—它分毫不值;大象应该在非洲受到保护,”马丁说道。

Conservationists say that Africa's elephant population has dwindled from millions to about 500,000, and that nearly 10 percent are being slaughtered each year.

环保主义者表示非洲大象数量从数百万减少到约500000头,每年有近10%被屠杀。

They warn that only tough action can save the elephants from extinction.

他们警告称只有采取强硬行动才可以拯救濒临灭绝的大象。