10 Easy Things You Can Do to Save Endangered Species 举手之劳拯救濒危物种

译/徐灵瑶 审订/魏家海

10 Easy Things You Can Do to Save Endangered Species 举手之劳拯救濒危物种

译/徐灵瑶 审订/魏家海

1. Learn about endangered species in your area.

Teach your friends and family about the wonderful wildlife, birds, fish and plants that live near you. The first step to protecting endangered species is learning about how interesting and important they are. Our natural world provides us with many indispensable services including clean air and water, food and medicinal sources,commercial, and aesthetic benefits.

2. Visit a national wildlife refuge, park or other open space.

These protected lands provide habitat to many native wildlife, birds, fish and plants. Scientists tell us the best way to protect endangered species is to protect the places where they live. Get involved by volunteering at your local nature center or wildlife refuge. Go wildlife or bird watching in nearby parks. Wildlife related recreation creates millions of jobs and supports local businesses.

1.了解所在地区的濒危物种。

向朋友和家人介绍附近奇妙的野生动物、鸟类、鱼类和植物。保护濒危物种，首先要了解它们是多么有趣和重要。自然界赐予了我们许多不可或缺之物：洁净的空气和水、食物和药物资源，以及商业利益、审美享受等。

2. 参观国家野生动物保护区、公园或其他公共空间。

这些保护区是许多当地野生动物、鸟类、鱼类和植物的栖息地。科学家告诉我们，保护濒危物种的最好方法就是保护它们的栖息地。参加当地的自然中心或野生动物保护区的志愿者活动。到附近的公园去观察野生动物或鸟类。与野生动物相关的旅游休闲产业创造了数以百万计的工作岗位，并扶持了当地的商业发展。

3. Make your home wildlife friendly.

Secure garbage in shelters or cans with locking lids, feed pets indoors and lock pet doors at night to avoid attracting wild animals into your home. Reduce your use of water in your home and garden so that animals that live in or near water can have a better chance of survival. Disinfect bird baths often to avoid disease transmission.Place decals on windows to deter bird collisions. Millions of birds die every year because of collisions with windows. You can help reduce the number of collisions simply by placing decals on the windows in your home and office.

3. 创建出对野生动物友好的环境。

确保垃圾有遮盖物或放在带锁盖的罐中，在室内饲养宠物，夜间锁住宠物门，以避免将野生动物引入家中。减少自家和花园用水，好让水生动物或近水动物拥有更多的生存机会。为避免疾病传播，经常对鸟池进行消毒。在窗户上贴花，以防止鸟碰撞，因为每年数百万只鸟死于撞窗。你可以在家里和办公室的窗户上贴花，来减少碰撞的次数。

4. Native plants provide food and shelter for native wildlife.

Attracting native insects like bees and butterflies can help pollinate your plants. The spread of non-native species has greatly impacted native populations around the world. Invasive species compete with native species for resources and habitat. They can even prey on native species directly, forcing native species towards extinction.

4. 当地植物为当地野生动物提供食物和栖息地。

吸引蜜蜂和蝴蝶这类本地昆虫可以帮助植物授粉。非本地物种的扩散已经极大地影响到世界各地当地物种的数量。入侵物种与本土物种争夺资源和栖息地，它们甚至可以直接捕食本地物种，导致本地物种灭绝。

5. Herbicides and pesticides may keep yards looking nice but they are in fact hazardous pollutants that affect wildlife at many levels.

Many herbicides and pesticides take a long time to degrade in the soils. Predators such as hawks, owls and coyotes can be harmed if they eat poisoned animals. Some groups of animals such as amphibians are particularly vulnerable to these chemical pollutants and suffer greatly as a result of the high levels of herbicides and pesticides in their habitat.

6. Slow down when driving.

Many animals live in developed areas and this means they must navigate a landscape full of human hazards. One of the biggest obstacles to wildlife living in developed areas is roads. Roads divide habitat and present a constant hazard to any animal attempting to cross from one side to the other. So when you’re out and about, slow down and keep an eye out for wildlife.

7. Recycle and buy sustainable products.

Buy recycled paper, sustainable products like bamboo and Forest Stewardship Council wood products to protect forest species.Never buy furniture made from wood from rainforests.Recycle your cell phones, because a mineral used in cell phones and other electronics is mined in gorilla habitat.Minimize your use of palm oil because forests where tigers live are being cut down to plant palm plantations.

5. 除草剂和杀虫剂可以美化庭院，但实际上是有害的污染物，会对野生动物产生多方面的影响。

许多除草剂和杀虫剂在土壤中需要很长时间才能降解。像鹰、猫头鹰、土狼这类食肉动物一旦捕食了中毒的动物，就会受到伤害。某些动物，如两栖动物，特别容易受到这些化学污染物的影响，由于栖息地的除草剂和杀虫剂含量很高，它们遭受了极大的痛苦。

6. 减速慢行。

许多动物生活在已开发的区域，这意味着它们必须在充满人类威胁的环境中生存。道路是在该区域生活的野生动物面对的最大障碍之一。道路分隔了栖息地，这对任何试图穿越栖息地的动物造成持续的威胁。因此，户外驾驶时须减速，小心野生动物。

7. 回收和购买可持续性产品。

购买再生纸、竹制品等可持续性产品，以及森林管理委员会认证的木制品等，以保护森林物种。千万别买采自雨林的木材做成的家具。手机应回收，因为手机和其他电子产品使用的一种矿物材料是在大猩猩栖息地开采的。减少棕榈油的使用，因为为了种植油棕树，老虎栖息的森林正被砍伐。

8. Never purchase products made from threatened or endangered species.

Overseas trips can be exciting and fun, and everyone wants a souvenir.But sometimes the souvenirs are made from species nearing extinction. Avoid supporting the market in illegal wildlife including: tortoise-shell, ivory, coral.Also, be careful of products including fur from tigers, polar bears, sea otters and other endangered wildlife,crocodile skin, live monkeys or apes,most live birds including parrots,macaws, cockatoos and finches, some live snakes, turtles and lizards, some orchids, cacti and cycads, medicinal products made from rhinos, tiger or Asiatic black bear.

8.永远不购买濒危物种制成品。

海外旅行既刺激又有趣，大家都想买纪念品。但有时纪念品正是濒危物种制品。避免支持非法野生动物交易，包括玳瑁、象牙、珊瑚等。此外，需注意的产品还有老虎、北极熊、海獭和其他濒危野生动物的皮毛，鳄鱼皮；活猴或活猿；大多数活鸟，包括各类鹦鹉如金刚鹦鹉、葵花鹦鹉和雀类；某些活蛇、乌龟、蜥蜴；某些兰花、仙人掌、苏铁；犀牛、老虎或亚洲黑熊制成的药品。

9. Harassing wildlife is cruel and illegal.

Shooting, trapping, or forcing a threatened or endangered animal into captivity is also illegal and can lead to their extinction. Don’t participate in this activity, and report it as soon as you see it to your local state or federal wildlife enforcement office.

10. Protect wildlife habitat.

Perhaps the greatest threat that faces many species is the widespread destruction of habitat. Scientists tell us the best way to protect endangered species is to protect the special places where they live. Wildlife must have places to find food, shelter and raise their young. Logging, oil and gas drilling,over-grazing and development all result habitat destruction. Endangered species habitat should be protected and these impacts minimized.

By protecting habitat, entire communities of animals and plants can be protected together. Parks, wildlife refuges, and other open space should be protected near your community. Open space also provides us with great places to visit and enjoy. Support wildlife habitat and open space protection in your community. When you are buying a house, consider your impact on wildlife habitat.

9.侵扰野生动物既残酷又违法。

射杀、诱捕、强制圈养濒危野生动物既违法又会导致该物种的灭绝。坚决不要参与此类活动，一旦发现，应立即向本州或联邦野生动物执法部门报告。

10.保护野生动物栖息地。

或许大多数物种面临的最大威胁就是栖息地遭到大规模的破坏。科学家告诉我们，保护濒危物种的最佳方法就是保护它们赖以生存的地方。野生动物必须有觅食、栖息、繁衍之地。伐木、石油和天然气开采、过度放牧和开发都造成栖息地的破坏。濒危物种的栖息地应该受到保护，那些不良影响应该降至最小程度。

通过保护栖息地，动物和植物的整个群体都可以得到保护。社区附近的公园、野生动物保护区和其他公共空间应受到保护。公共空间也是良好的观光和休闲之地，因此要支持社区关于野生动物栖息地和公共空间的保护行动。购房时应考虑对野生动物栖息地的影响。

（译者单位：华中师范大学）