Poaching (偷猎) is a major cause of decline for elephants, with a total decrease to about 415,000, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The research team found that poaching occurred more frequently in Central Africa and near the Mozambique-Tanzania border. In recent years, Garamba National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, saw more than 860 elephants die at the hands of poachers, and Selous Game Reserve, in Tanzania, more than 750. Researchers discovered that the household wealth of those surrounding areas was relatively low and they hold a mid-level health.
Researchers said, “Illegal killings are driven by criminal networks who recruit poachers rather than by opportunistic hunters. When a lot of Africa’s national parks were established, people were often forced to be evicted from the land that was now designated a protected area. Local people who had been lived on hunting suddenly became described as poachers.”
“People living within about five miles of wildlife protected area in Tanzania also reported losing up to half their income. A local survey showed the destruction of their crops by elephants and killings of their livestock by lions.” Someone added, “If you’re closest to the park, you really do suffer more cost than benefit of the protected area.”
Researchers also noted, “When local communities enjoy the benefits of conservation, it will reduce incentives (诱因) to poach. When governments ensure that local communities are not subject to carrying the burden of the costs associated with this wildlife, they will have more access to income-generating opportunities that can help to lift communities out of poverty.”
Conservationists have to think creatively, carrying out strategies such as reducing demand in ivory-consuming countries, improving educational standards and medical facilities, and increasing support for wildlife rangers. “When we are looking to protect wildlife, we can’t do that without thinking about the well-being of people,” researchers said.
8. What do the numbers in Paragraph 2 imply?
A.Elephants mainly appear in Africa. |
B.Poachers have found the track of elephants. |
C.Elephants living in the protected area are facing a decline. |
D.Hundreds of elephants in Africa die at the hands of poachers. |
9. What does the underlined phrase “
be evicted from” in paragraph 3 mean?
A.Leave. | B.Return. | C.Wander. | D.Seek. |
10. Which of the following statement is NOT true about poaching?
A.Elephants poaching is likely driven by need, not greed. |
B.Household wealth of people in the protected area is relatively high. |
C.Wildlife protection and people’s well-being should go hand in hand. |
D.People living close to the wildlife reserve lose nearly half their income. |
11. Where is this passage most probably taken from?
A.A health column. | B.A travel brochure. |
C.A geographic magazine. | D.A news story. |