智利救援队拯救了最后一个已知幸存的水蛙物种

Rescue Team in Chile Saves Last Known Surviving Water Frog Species

Wildlife activists¹ say they have rescued what may be the world’s last surviving members of a highly endangered species of water frog.

A team of conservationists captured 14 Loa water frogs earlier this month in northern Chile, a wildlife group reported. The team also included representatives of Chile’s government.

There are more than 60 known species of water frogs. The amphibians³ live in several countries in South America.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Loa water frog as “critically endangered.” The not-for-profit Global Wildlife Conservation group said the 14 frogs were in poor condition when they were discovered in late June. The animals were small and struggling because of a lack of food and water.

The Loa water frogs are known to live only in a single body of water near Calama, in Chile. The city sits in the middle of the Atacama Desert, where water is in great demand.

There was little water in the area where the frogs were found, the conservation group reported. The frogs’ environment had mostly dried up because water is being taken away and used for human activities, the group said. The activities include mining, agriculture and land development.

“All of the frogs had been pushed into a tiny pool of muddy water,” the organization said. “The team collected the last 14 individuals and brought them to the National Zoo of Chile to start a conservation breeding program.”

Zoo specialists are closely watching the small creatures and trying to give them everything they need to survive and be healthy. The team said it had contacted water frog experts from around the world to seek advice for their efforts. Zoo workers plan to launch a mating program for the frogs in an attempt to expand the population.

“The first big challenge is to help these frogs survive,” said Alejandra Montalba, director of the National Zoo of Chile. “While the rescue was the best chance to save the Loa water frog, there are always risks with trying to care for a new species - especially when the animals are already struggling.”

The Amphibian² Survival Alliance is providing financial support for the rescue effort. The group’s director, Helen Meredith, said in a statement the operation gives her “great hope” for the Loa water frogs. “They face an uncertain future but have a group of champions committed to their survival.”

Conservation groups have called on Chile’s government to take steps to halt any illegal water usage that threatens the frogs’ natural environment. They would also like to see creation of a government-supported sanctuary⁴ to protect the animals.

Jon Paul Rodríguez heads the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission. He proposed that an emergency plan be developed to prepare the Calama area for the frogs’ return.

“We need to work very hard to restore their environment because it’s pointless to breed them if they don’t have a home to go back to in the wild,” Rodríguez said.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

species – n. group of plants or animals that share similar qualities

conservation – n. the protection of animals, plants, and nature

amphibian – n. a creature that lives both on land and in water

breed – v. to reproduce

challenge – n. something difficult that tests someone's ability or desire

uncertain – adj. not sure of

sanctuary – n. a place that provides protection; a shelter

restore – v. to make something good exist again; to rebuild or recreate

1 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》

2 amphibian   

n.两栖动物；水陆两用飞机和车辆

参考例句：

• The frog is an amphibian,which means it can live on land and in water.青蛙属于两栖动物，也就是说它既能生活在陆地上也能生活在水里。
• Amphibian is an important specie in ecosystem and has profound meaning in the ecotoxicology evaluation.两栖类是生态系统中的重要物种，并且对环境毒理评价有着深远意义。

3 amphibians   

两栖动物( amphibian的名词复数 )； 水陆两用车； 水旱两生植物； 水陆两用飞行器

参考例句：

• The skin of amphibians is permeable to water. 两栖动物的皮肤是透水的。
• Two amphibians ferry them out over the sands. 两辆水陆两用车把他们渡过沙滩。

4 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。