VOA慢速英语2020 澳洲考拉可能会在2050年灭绝（在线收听）

Australian animals called koalas could disappear from New South Wales state by 2050,unless the state government immediately acts to protect them.That is the finding of a year-long state parliament investigation of the marsupials.

澳大利亚一种叫做考拉的动物可能会在2050年从新南威尔士州灭绝，除非州政府立即采取行动保护它们。那是州议会对有袋类动物进行为期一年的调查的结果。

Marsupials are mammals with an unusual system of reproduction.Most, including koalas, are born when they are just embryos.The little koala then takes shelter for months in a pouch on its mothers body.Newborns, called joeys, stay in the safe, warm place for months, while they continue to develop.

有袋类动物是一种有着独特繁殖系统的哺乳动物。大多数有袋类动物，包括考拉，都是在其胚胎时期出生的。然后，小考拉在自己妈妈身上的育儿袋里躲几个月。被称为“幼兽”的新生考拉会在安全温暖的育儿袋里待上几个月，继续发育。

Koalas are among Australias most beloved animals.

考拉是澳大利亚最受喜爱的动物之一。 

Lawmakers in the New South Wales upper house of Parliament released the report on Tuesday.It said land clearing for agriculture, urban development, mining and forestry are threatening the koalas survival.Such operations destroy koala habitat.Koalas live in eucalyptus forests.The trees provide shelter and food for the koalas.They eat eucalyptus leaves.

新南威尔士州上议院的议员周二公布了这份报告。该报告称，为农业、城市发展、采矿和林业而进行的土地清理正在威胁考拉的生存。这样的活动破坏了考拉的栖息地。考拉生活在桉树林中。这些树为考拉提供了栖身之所和食物。它们吃桉树叶。

But, the states most recent fire season, aided by severely dry weather, was unusually long and proved disastrous for koalas.The investigation found that about 25 percent of koala habitat across the state was destroyed.The report also said that, in some parts of New South Wales, or NSW for short,fires destroyed as much as 81 percent of the habitat.

但是，由于极端干燥的天气，该州最近的火灾季节异常漫长，这对考拉来说是一场灾难。该调查发现，全州大约25%的考拉栖息地遭到破坏。报告还称，在新南威尔士州（简称NSW）的一些地区，大火烧毁了多达81%的考拉栖息地。

"The evidence could not be more stark," the report reads,adding "The only way our childrens grandchildren will see a koala in the wild in NSW will be if the government acts" on the reports suggested measures.

报告写道：“证据再明显不过了。”该报告还补充说，“我们子孙后代在新南威尔士州看到野生考拉的唯一方法就是政府按照报告的建议措施采取行动。”

The parliamentary committee heading the investigation includes lawmakers from several political parties.The report advises that the government take 42 actions to deal with the problem.

负责调查的议会委员会包括来自几个政党的议员。报告建议政府采取42项举措来解决这个问题。 

One calls for immediately counting koalas in New South Wales.Another advises that the government place the protection of the animals above urban development.And it calls for more money to support efforts to save the environment.

其中一项举措呼吁立即清点新南威尔士州的考拉数量。另一项举措建议把保护考拉置于城市发展之上。而这需要更多的资金来支持拯救环境所作的努力。

Stuart Blanch is an expert on land clearing and restoration at the Australian office of the WWF, or World Wide Fund for Nature.He called on the government to do as the report advises and to strengthen protections for areas where the animals live.

斯图尔特·布兰奇是世界自然基金会（简称WWF）澳大利亚办事处的土地清理与恢复专家。他呼吁政府按照报告的建议去做，并加强对动物栖息地的保护。

"WWF calls on the NSW Premier to rewrite weak land clearing laws to protect the koala habitat," Blanch said in a statement.He also said that the government should provide increased economic support to farmers who actively protect eucalyptus treesand stop wood industry operations in koala habitats.

布兰奇在一份声明中称：“世界自然基金会呼吁新南威尔士州州长修改薄弱的土地清理法，以保护考拉的栖息地。”他还说，政府应该为积极保护桉树的农民提供更多的经济支持，并停止在考拉栖息地进行林业作业。

The Premier of New South Wales is Gladys Berejiklian.A spokesperson for her administration said the government would comment on the report after a period of consideration.The official added that New South Wales had already provided more than $30 million to protect koalas.

新南威尔士州的州长是格拉迪斯·贝雷吉克里安。她的一名政府发言人称，政府会在考虑一段时间后对该报告发表评论。这位官员补充说，新南威尔士州已经提供了3000多万美元来保护考拉。

Im Caty Weaver.

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