VOA标准英语2010年-Koala AIDS Poses Increased Hazard to A

The discovery of an AIDS-like virus in koalas is raising newfound fears the animal may soon face extinction¹. KIDS, or Koala Immune Deficiency Syndrome², decimates the koala's ability to fight off infection and disease. 

Dr. Jon Hanger³, the researcher who discovered the virus points out a very sick koala with the sexually transmitted disease Chlamydia, and now her doctors fear she may have developed the retrovirus that causes koala AIDS.

"These ulcers⁴ in the mouth are one of the hallmarks of this sort of AIDS condition," Hanger said. "From the patient stand point, it has similarities with human AIDS patients that undergo a prolonged and sad decline."

He says disease now poses as great a risk to these iconic marsupials as habitat loss from development, drought and fires. "Even within protected habitat, we're now understanding that those populations are now not secure, because disease is rife⁶ in them. And that they're not sustainable," he said.

The Australian government estimated in 2006 that koalas numbered in the hundreds of thousands, with some areas of the country experiencing over-population. 

But that was before koala AIDS and a devastating⁷ drought, and last November, the government adopted a new National Koala Conservation Strategy in order to stabilize⁸ and manage the dwindling⁹ population.

Dr. Bob Beeton, who chairs the committee that is re-evaluating the koalas' status, says there are plans to publish a recommendation in September about whether koalas should now be listed as a threatened species. "We do know that there is disease in koalas at quite a high level in areas where the populations are stressed. What the general situation is, we're really still working on," he said.

On going work which is going too slowly for some. "The government really is not doing enough…  I'm hoping that going into the future we see a lot more attention paid to understanding what this virus is doing and then a much more appropriate response," Hanger said.

The situation is so severe, that the koala population, according to advocacy groups, has been cut to just 43,000, down from 100,000 six years ago.  And if that trend continues, koalas could go extinct in the next 30 years.

Nearly two years ago, Australia's largest animal hospital opened in Queensland. Director Gail Gipp says the koala is in peril¹⁰. "I've seen since we've been in this hospital, even, local populations become extinct in that time. And it's happening, you know, really on a monthly basis in Queensland and the same in New South Wales," she said.

A report by the Australian Koala Foundation and the University of Queensland says losing the koala could potentially cost the Australian economy up to $1 billion annually¹¹ in lost tourist revenue.

That could have a substantial affect on vacation destinations say both staff and holidaymakers at Sydney Wildlife World.

"They're such an iconic species, in Australia, and they're just so cute and cuddly¹², so yes they're definitely one of the main draw cards," said Kate Blount, Sydney Wildlife World koala keeper.

"Australia would lose something.  It would really be a pity," remarned Stefan Kley, who is honeymooning¹³ in Australia.

Pia Spratley, a tourist, said "Koalas are an icon⁵ of Australia, and most people who want to come here they're going to want to see that icon."

Even though the U.S. government has classified the koala as endangered for over a decade, back at the Threatened Species Scientific Committee, Dr. Beeton says he doesn't believe the beloved species will become extinct. "That assumes you're adopting a do-nothing option.  And quite clearly there's a lot of consideration being given to what interventions¹⁴ might take place and how they might happen," he said.

Interventions likely will come far too late for this mother koala. But veterinarians here hope they will allow her joeys, and her species, to again flourish rather than fade
 

1 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。

2 syndrome   

n.综合病症；并存特性

参考例句：

• The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。
• Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。

3 hanger   

n.吊架，吊轴承；挂钩

参考例句：

• I hung my coat up on a hanger.我把外衣挂在挂钩上。
• The ship is fitted with a large helicopter hanger and flight deck.这艘船配备有一个较大的直升飞机悬挂装置和飞行甲板。

4 ulcers   

n.溃疡( ulcer的名词复数 )；腐烂物；道德败坏；腐败

参考例句：

• Detachment of the dead cells produces erosions and ulcers. 死亡细胞的脱落，产生糜烂和溃疡。 来自辞典例句
• 75% of postbulbar ulcers occur proximal to the duodenal papilla. 75％的球后溃疡发生在十二指肠乳头近侧。 来自辞典例句

5 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

6 rife   

adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的

参考例句：

• Disease is rife in the area.疾病在这一区很流行。
• Corruption was rife before the election.选举之前腐败盛行。

7 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

8 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

9 dwindling   

adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The number of wild animals on the earth is dwindling. 地球上野生动物的数量正日渐减少。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority. 他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。 来自辞典例句

10 peril   

n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物

参考例句：

• The refugees were in peril of death from hunger.难民有饿死的危险。
• The embankment is in great peril.河堤岌岌可危。

11 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

12 cuddly   

adj.抱着很舒服的，可爱的

参考例句：

• The beautiful crib from Mom and Dad is so cuddly.爸爸妈妈送的漂亮婴儿床真舒服。
• You can't call a hedgehog cuddly.你不能说刺猬逗人喜爱。

13 honeymooning   

度蜜月（honeymoon的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• They are honeymooning in Paris. 他们正在巴黎度蜜月。
• They are honeymooning in Europe. 他们去欧洲渡蜜月。

14 interventions   

n.介入，干涉，干预( intervention的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Economic analysis of government interventions deserves detailed discussion. 政府对经济的干预应该给予充分的论述。 来自辞典例句
• The judge's frequent interventions made a mockery of justice. 法官的屡屡干预是对正义的践踏。 来自互联网