動(dòng)物園存在的意義是什么？是供人游樂的休閑景點(diǎn)、救助和保護(hù)動(dòng)物的機(jī)構(gòu)還是科普大眾的場(chǎng)所？現(xiàn)代動(dòng)物園對(duì)野生動(dòng)物的生存是好還是壞？如今，動(dòng)物園的環(huán)境與條件已與以往大不相同，許多動(dòng)物園都稱其對(duì)動(dòng)物和游客有益。本期節(jié)目圍繞動(dòng)物園是否應(yīng)該存在展開討論。

詞匯：animal conservation 動(dòng)物保護(hù)

For many of us, our closest?encounter?with wild animals is at a zoo. These places allow us to observe the behaviours and characteristics of amazing?creatures?from?big cats?to tiny?amphibians. It's an enjoyable and educational experience for us, but is it the best?environment?for the animals?

對(duì)我們?cè)S多人來說，與野生動(dòng)物最親密的接觸是在動(dòng)物園里。在這些地方，我們可以觀察到從大型貓科動(dòng)物到小型兩棲動(dòng)物等神奇生物的行為和特征。對(duì)我們來說，這是一次愉快而有教育意義的經(jīng)歷，但這對(duì)動(dòng)物來說是最好的環(huán)境嗎?

A long time ago, people could only see wild animals as?stuffed?dead exhibits in a museum. Later, live animals were captured by explorers, brought home and put on show to the public in?menageries?–?animal welfare?was not a priority. But modern zoos and?wildlife parks?have transformed the conditions and environments for animals, making bigger?enclosures, removing bars, and, to some extent, mimicking their?natural habitats.

很久以前，人們只能在博物館里看到野生動(dòng)物標(biāo)本。后來，活生生的動(dòng)物被探險(xiǎn)家捕獲，帶回家，在動(dòng)物園向公眾展示——?jiǎng)游锔＠皇莾?yōu)先考慮的問題。但現(xiàn)代動(dòng)物園和野生動(dòng)物園已經(jīng)改變了動(dòng)物的生存條件和環(huán)境，建造了更大的圍欄，拆除了柵欄，在某種程度上模仿了它們的自然棲息地。

Some people have questioned the cruelty of keeping animals?captive?and using them just for entertainment, but zoos are keen to show they are here to help wildlife by educating us about?conservation. In the UK, the introduction of The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 also required zoos to educate the public. Well-managed zoos are now also involved in supporting and?funding?conservation programmes.

有些人質(zhì)疑圈養(yǎng)動(dòng)物并將其用于娛樂的殘忍行為，但動(dòng)物園熱衷于通過教育我們保護(hù)野生動(dòng)物來表明它們是來幫助野生動(dòng)物的。在英國(guó)，《1981年動(dòng)物園許可證法案》的出臺(tái)也要求動(dòng)物園對(duì)公眾進(jìn)行教育。管理良好的動(dòng)物園現(xiàn)在也參與支持和資助保護(hù)項(xiàng)目。

Probably the biggest claim from zoos today is that they help to protect?species?that are under threat?in the wild?due to climate change. Robert Young, Chair in Wildlife Conservation at Salford University says: "There are quite a lot of different species around the planet which we wouldn't have today if it wasn't for zoos." Some zoos have captive?breeding?programmes which help to preserve the future of species that would otherwise face?extinction. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio recently praised Chester Zoo in the UK for its conservation work. It brought a "rare fish species back from the dead" after breeding and releasing a school of?golden skiffia?fish back into their?native?river.

如今，動(dòng)物園最大的聲明可能是，它們幫助保護(hù)了那些因氣候變化而在野外受到威脅的物種。索爾福德大學(xué)野生動(dòng)物保護(hù)系主任羅伯特·楊說:“如果沒有動(dòng)物園，地球上有很多不同的物種，我們今天就不會(huì)有?！币恍﹦?dòng)物園有圈養(yǎng)繁殖計(jì)劃，這有助于保護(hù)那些可能面臨滅絕的物種的未來。演員萊昂納多·迪卡普里奧最近稱贊了英國(guó)切斯特動(dòng)物園的保護(hù)工作。在繁殖并放歸一群金色skiffia魚后，該項(xiàng)目使一種“稀有魚類死而復(fù)生”。

While the debate about having zoos continues, new opportunities to meet wildlife are being explored, such as using virtual reality, and Jon Coe, a zoo designer, told the BBC: "Taking a walk through a?herd?of elephants in the Serengeti, I think, is going to be possible pretty soon."

雖然關(guān)于動(dòng)物園的爭(zhēng)論仍在繼續(xù)，但人們正在探索新的機(jī)會(huì)，比如使用虛擬現(xiàn)實(shí)，動(dòng)物園設(shè)計(jì)師喬恩·科告訴BBC:“我認(rèn)為，在塞倫蓋蒂的一群大象中散步，很快就會(huì)成為可能。”

詞匯表

encounter 不期而遇，偶然相遇
creature 動(dòng)物，生物
big cat 大型貓科動(dòng)物
amphibian 兩棲動(dòng)物
environment 環(huán)境
stuffed （動(dòng)物）制成標(biāo)本的
menagerie （供私人收藏或公眾觀賞的）野生動(dòng)物園
animal welfare 動(dòng)物保護(hù)
wildlife park 野生動(dòng)物園
enclosure 圍場(chǎng)
natural habitat 自然棲息地
captive 圈養(yǎng)的
conservation （動(dòng)物）保護(hù)
fund 資助
species 物種
in the wild 在野生環(huán)境中
breeding （動(dòng)物）繁殖，飼養(yǎng)
extinction 滅絕
golden skiffia 弗氏斯基法鳉
native 原地的，土生的
herd 獸群

測(cè)驗(yàn)與練習(xí)

1.?閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. Before zoos, how did most people get to see a wild animal?

2. What have many zoos done to improve the environment for their animals?

3. How are zoos trying to help animals in the wild?

4. According to Robert Young, what might we not have if it wasn't for zoos?

5. True or false??Actor Leonardo DiCaprio recently released some rare golden skiffia fish back into their native river.

2.?選擇意思恰當(dāng)?shù)膯卧~或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. While on a country walk, I _______ a bull in a field, so I had to run!

stuffed? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? herd? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?encountered? ? ? ? ? ? native

2. It was great to see so many animals _______ when we went on a safari.

on the wild? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? in the wild? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? at the wild? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? in a wild

3. The black rhino is one of several animals that are facing _______.

extinction? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? conservation? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? funding? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? menageries

4. Elephants are _______ to Africa and Asia.

captive? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? stuffed? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?native? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?conservation

5. The smell was coming from a _______ of cows on the nearby farm.

heard? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? herds? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?hurd? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?herd

答案

1.?閱讀課文并回答問題。?

1. Before zoos, how did most people get to see a wild animal?
A long time ago, people could only see wild animals as stuffed dead exhibits in a museum. Later on, live animals could be seen in menageries.

2. What have many zoos done to improve the environment for their animals?
Many modern zoos have made enclosures bigger, removed bars, and to some extent, tried to mimic the animal's natural habitats.

3. How are zoos trying to help animals in the wild?
Some zoos have captive breeding programmes which help to preserve the future of species that would otherwise face extinction.

4. According to Robert Young, what might we not have if it wasn't for zoos?
Robert Young says "there are quite a lot of different species around the planet, which we wouldn't have today if it wasn't for zoos."

5. True or false??Actor Leonardo DiCaprio recently released some rare golden skiffia fish back into their native river.
False. He recently praised Chester Zoo for its work for breeding and releasing a school of rare golden skiffia fish back into the river.

2.?選擇意思恰當(dāng)?shù)膯卧~或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. While on a country walk, I?encountered?a bull in a field, so I had to run!

2. It was great to see so many animals?in the wild?when we went on a safari.

3. The black rhino is one of several animals that are facing?extinction.

4. Elephants are?native?to Africa and Asia.

5. The smell was coming from a?herd?of cows on the nearby farm.

文章來源BBC，侵權(quán)刪。