2007年VOA标准英语-Saving Africa's Free-Roaming Lions

By Paul Sisco
Washington
25 July 2007
 

At the beginning of the 20th century there were more than a million lions worldwide.  Today there are less than 30,000 in the wild. The remaining lions are increasingly threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and eradication¹ campaigns to protect farms and cattle.  Paul Sisco reports on an economic incentive² program that is making a difference.

For generations, Masai tribesman on the spectacular African plains in southeastern Kenya have hunted lions -- to protect their livestock³ and their livelihoods⁴.

Today they celebrate the lion's life.

Noah

Noah is an elder in the Masai community. "We have decided⁵ as a community of the Masai to lay down our spears, no more killing⁶ of the lion in our community."

He is part of a group of Masai visiting the United States promoting the Predator⁷ Compensation Program.

Conservation International's Frank Hawkins explains. "The Masai have been living with wildlife for many generations and it has been a conflicting relationship in many ways. They compete with the savannah animals for food and the lions eat their cattle.  We're trying to find ways in which the wildlife become an asset to them."

Frank Hawkins

And they have with the Predator Compensation Fund established in 2003. After much discussion, a group of Masai ranchers agreed to protect lions or pay a price. In turn, if a lion or other predator kills livestock the Masai owner is paid market value for the dead animals from the fund.

One man said that in the past, when a lion killed cattle, they killed it on the spot. And now, after the start of the program, the Masai see the lion population growing."

With more lions, ecotourism is on the rise, creating jobs, and the growth of the Fund, co-founded by Tom Hill. "What I think our Predator Compensation Fund has clearly demonstrated is that we have not taken the lion away from the culture of the Masai, but today they are celebrating the preservation⁸ of the lion, not the killing of the lion."

Tom Hill

Since 2003, only four lions have been killed here, compared to nearly 100 on surrounding properties.

One of the Masai’s herdsman says "Now, after the inception⁹ of this project, it is raising the living standard of the locals."

Conservation International has joined forces with the Ol Donyo Trust, extended the program to neighboring ranches¹⁰, and says it can be a model used to protect species throughout Africa.

1 eradication   

n.根除

参考例句：

• The eradication of an established infestation is not easy. 根除昆虫蔓延是不容易的。
• This is often required for intelligent control and eradication. 这经常需要灵巧的控制与消除。

2 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

3 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。

4 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

7 predator   

n.捕食其它动物的动物；捕食者

参考例句：

• The final part of this chapter was devoted to a brief summary of predator species.本章最后部分简要总结了食肉动物。
• Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard and a fearsome predator.科摩多龙是目前存在的最大蜥蜴，它是一种令人恐惧的捕食性动物。

8 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。

9 inception   

n.开端，开始，取得学位

参考例句：

• The programme has been successful since its inception.这个方案自开始实施以来一直卓有成效。
• Julia's worked for that company from its inception.自从那家公司开办以来，朱莉娅一直在那儿工作。

10 ranches   

大农场， （兼种果树，养鸡等的）大牧场( ranch的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They hauled feedlot manure from the ranches to fertilize their fields. 他们从牧场的饲养场拖走肥料去肥田。
• Many abandoned ranches are purchased or leased by other poultrymen. 许多被放弃的牧场会由其他家禽监主收买或租用。