塞西尔之死或能帮助保护其他动物

AS IT IS 2015-10-03 Cecil the Lion Could Help Protect Other Animals 塞西尔之死或能帮助保护其他动物

After an American hunter killed a beloved lion named Cecil in Zimbabwe this summer, animal rights are getting increased attention in the U.S.

In September, a lawmaker from Arizona proposed a law that would prohibit importing dead animals that are threatened or endangered. The species do not have to be listed under the Endangered Species Act. The law would limit trophy¹ hunting -- in other words, hunting large and mature animals to display back home.

Rep. Raul Grijalva calls the proposed legislation the “Conserving Ecosystems³ by Ceasing the Importation of Large Animal Trophies⁴ Act.” The first words of the act spell  CECIL, the name of the lion killed by an American dentist. The proposed law would have prevented the American hunter from bringing Cecil’s body into the U.S.

Adam Roberts is the CEO of the animal rights group Born Free USA. He says more than 500 lions are killed every year in Africa as trophies.

“When you take an individual like Cecil out of the family system and out of the ecosystem², it has dire⁵ consequences,” he says.

Elephants as entertainment?

Another animal rights campaign is looking at organizations in southern Africa that offer elephant rides to tourists. Activists⁶ say using elephants for entertainment is cruel, inhumane and dangerous to both humans and elephants.

Kate Nustedt is the director of wildlife for the World Animal Protection group, based in London. Ms. Nustedt explains that for a long time, many people believed African elephants, which are larger than Asian elephants, could not be trained. But recently, she says, trainers have begun using techniques that can be effective but cruel.

“The [elephants are] taken, sometimes months old, from their mothers,” Ms. Nustedt says. “And when they’re very young, juvenile⁸ elephants go through what’s called the crush. And in this they’re trapped in a small cage, tied up with ropes so they can’t move. … And [the trainers are] poking⁹ them with sticks, hitting them with whips and wooden batons¹⁰ as well until the elephant’s spirit actually breaks.”

Many of the better-known tourist organizations say they use only positive training techniques. But Ms. Nustedt says even under the best training methods, “no elephant enjoys giving rides or being in entertainment, ever or anywhere.”

In addition, the U.S. Humane⁷ Society says trainers can use abusive methods to control elephants. They are often chained for many hours every day. They may also be prevented from having social contact with other elephants.

And, the U.S. Humane Society adds  elephants are unpredictable. They can unexpectedly act aggressively. They can also carry diseases such as tuberculosis¹¹.

But these obstacles may not prevent humans from using elephants for profit. In Johannesburg, a 10-minute elephant ride costs about $35. That means a trained elephant can earn more in a day than the average South African.

Words in This Story

trophy – n. something you keep or take to show that you were successful in hunting

ecosystem – n. everything that exists in a particular environment, including plants, animals, rocks, soil, sunlight and water

dire –adj. very bad; causing great fear or worry

juvenile – adj. not yet fully¹² grown

spirit – n. a desire or determination to do something

unpredictable – adj. not always behaving in a way that is expected

1 trophy   

n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品

参考例句：

• The cup is a cherished trophy of the company.那只奖杯是该公司很珍惜的奖品。
• He hung the lion's head as a trophy.他把那狮子头挂起来作为狩猎纪念品。

2 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。

3 ecosystems   

n.生态系统( ecosystem的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are highly sensitive and delicately balanced ecosystems in the forest. 森林里有高度敏感、灵敏平衡的各种生态系统。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Madagascar's ecosystems range from rainforest to semi-desert. 马达加斯加生态系统类型多样，从雨林到半荒漠等不一而足。 来自辞典例句

4 trophies   

n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖

参考例句：

• His football trophies were prominently displayed in the kitchen. 他的足球奖杯陈列在厨房里显眼的位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The hunter kept the lion's skin and head as trophies. 这猎人保存狮子的皮和头作为纪念品。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

6 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 humane   

adj.人道的，富有同情心的

参考例句：

• Is it humane to kill animals for food?宰杀牲畜来吃合乎人道吗？
• Their aim is for a more just and humane society.他们的目标是建立一个更加公正、博爱的社会。

8 juvenile   

n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的

参考例句：

• For a grown man he acted in a very juvenile manner.身为成年人，他的行为举止显得十分幼稚。
• Juvenile crime is increasing at a terrifying rate.青少年犯罪正在以惊人的速度增长。

9 poking   

n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢

参考例句：

• He was poking at the rubbish with his stick. 他正用手杖拨动垃圾。
• He spent his weekends poking around dusty old bookshops. 他周末都泡在布满尘埃的旧书店里。

10 batons   

n.（警察武器）警棍( baton的名词复数 )；（乐队指挥用的）指挥棒；接力棒

参考例句：

• There were many riot policemen with batons. 有许多带警棍的防暴警察。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Chinese police fight? Number one is a person with batons to fight! 满街飘的中国国旗，是一个老华侨在事发时那出来分给大家的，很感动，真的，从来一向多一事不如少一事的中国人今天团结到一起站出来反抗。 来自互联网

11 tuberculosis   

n.结核病，肺结核

参考例句：

• People used to go to special health spring to recover from tuberculosis.人们常去温泉疗养胜地治疗肺结核。
• Tuberculosis is a curable disease.肺结核是一种可治愈的病。

12 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。