2007年VOA标准英语-Gray Wolf No Longer Endangered

By Paul Sisco
Washington, DC
08 February 2007
 
watch Update Wolves report 

Gray wolf

The gray wolf once roamed from coast to coast and from Alaska to Mexico in North America.  It is believed they are second only to humans in adapting to climate extremes.  But a century of hunting brought them to near extinction¹.  Now there are more than 5,000 in the United States, not counting a thriving population larger than that in Alaska.  After three decades of federal protections, the gray wolf is back.  Paul Sisco reports.

The U.S government has taken the gray wolf off the endangered species list.

After a century of shooting, trapping and poisoning by ranchers to protect livestock², wolves were placed under protection in 1974.  Steve Norbit, of the National Wildlife Federation³, says, "They are not the bad guy. They are not the savior of the wilderness⁴. They are just an animal trying to figure out how to make a living."

Under protection and reintroduced to former habitats, the gray wolf population has come back. Breeding programs at Yellowstone National Park and elsewhere have proved successful.  Now, 30 years later, wolf populations in the midwestern United States have recovered enough to end their protected status.

Without federal protections, it is up to individual states to manage populations.  That worries environmentalists such as Bill Snade of the Center for Biodiversity. "Already we've seen the state of Idaho propose a $26 permit fee to hunt wolves.  That is right out of the gate.  I'm sure we'll see other states follow suit."

Alan Ferguson, from Wyoming, understands the problem. "These wolves don't kill first, they take the animal down and then they just go to feeding. You're running the risk of a lot of wolf derbies, and who knows, maybe extinction again. I don't know."

He has lost cattle to wolves, but still fears state management, allowing them to be hunted. Ferguson adds, "I don't think so.  The good Lord meant them to be here."

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 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

3 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

4 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。