【推荐1】I was mostly based in Samburu National Reserve, recording details of the population and leading collar (颈圈) operations. We put trackers (跟踪仪) around wild elephants’necks, so we can learn about their activities.

In May 2009, in the middle of the wet season, Rommel appeared again. And it was histurn to be placed a collar. We sent three cars out to search for him. There’s a river running through the park where many elephants gather in the mornings. At 10:30 am, one of my partners clocked Rommel.

A tranquillizer (镇静剂) was carefully shot into his body so we could safely place a collaron him, but for a bull of Rommel’s size it could take longer. After that, he turned away, heading in an unexpected direction and seemed to be near danger by killing himself in thewater. It would be a bad accident. Only by pulling his trunk (象鼻) from the river, could weensure his survival. The problem was that the river was a little bit changeable. Immediately, I decided to act. I jumped in and lifted his heavy, twitching trunk from the water with the help of lifeguards. The team tried to fit him with a collar, but we discovered that we didn’t have one big enough.

We couldn’t risk keeping him there while we created a bigger collar. So I struggled on, holding his trunk high with all my strength. And medicine that took away the efforts of the tranquillizer was delivered.

As soon as his ears started to move, a sign of coming to life, I dropped his trunk and moved to safety. Within a couple of minutes, he was back to life. That was one of my proudest moments

【推荐2】Many animal species worldwide have become endangered. Here are some of the most endangered animals.

It is the tallest North American flying bird. In 1938, the first year when a population survey was done, only 29 whooping cranes remained in the wild. Three years later, only 16 were left. Hunting and the decrease of their habitats had harmed the population. Great efforts to save the birds did not begin until the late 1960s. Today, there are over 500 whooping cranes, thanks in large part to new breeding (繁殖) programs.

There are fewer than 25,000 blue whales, the largest animals on the planet. Blue whales are found in all of the world’s oceans but the Arctic Ocean. Today their population has decreased by 90% because of humans’ hunting or killing in the 20th century. Hunting of the species for sale was forbidden in 1966. The National Marine Fisheries Service of the US explained a recovery plan in detail in 1998.

The best guess of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) on today’s population of Asian elephants in 13 countries is around 40,000-50,000. That number may be far lower. Over 50% of the population is in India. The increasing human population there—and elsewhere in Asia — creates conflicts (冲突) for space and resources. And while the long teeth of Asian elephants are much smaller than those of African elephants, the Asian elephants are still killed for their ivory, meat, and skin.

Though it’s called a leopard, the snow leopard is actually more closely related to the tiger. Probably fewer than 7,500 snow leopards remain in the wild. The largest populations are in China and Mongolia, with large populations in India and Kyrgyzstan as well. The snow leopard usually hunts blue sheep as its food, but in some areas, it heavily depends on home-raised animals. The farmers who depend upon the animals shoot the “problem” snow leopards.

【推荐1】For 234 years, the bald eagle has been an official symbol of the U.S. It is, after all, the national animal. But in May, 2016, the former President Barack Obama signed a law naming the bison (野牛) the national mammal. Since then, the eagle has had to share its perch.

The North American bison has long been a symbol of the West. “No other native animal tells America’s story better. It is a long-lasting symbol of power, Native American culture, and the Western wildness. At one time, tens of millions of bison lived in North America. For Native American communities, bison were a source of food and clothing. Bison were at the very heart of their traditional way of life,” says Missouri congressman William Lacy Clay Jr.

That way of life changed in the mid-1800s. People began to travel west and hunt bison. Some hunted for the same reason as Native Americans did. But others killed bison for sport. In 1894, it became illegal to kill bison. But it was almost too late. By the early 1900s, fewer than 1,000 wild bison remained in America.

Some people realized the animals needed to be saved. President Theodore Roosevelt, William Hornaday — the first director of the Bronx Zoo, in New York City — and others formed the American Bison Society. The group was to bring back the bison. Native American tribes and locals also joined the fight. By the mid-1930s, bison were no longer in danger.

Today, there are about 500,000 North American bison. They live in all 50 states. “Only about 30,000 of those animals are living as truly wild bison. Others live on protected lands or in zoos,” says Pat Thomas, the associate director of the Bronx Zoo.

Thomas says naming the bison the national mammal was an important step in making sure the animal is well protected. “This recognition is beginning to complete the circle,” he says, “from a time when there were millions of wild bison, to when bison were hunted until they nearly died out, to the beginning of the recovery.”

【推荐3】The exploration of the origin of the slow living movement in the Western world began with a slow eating movement in 1986. Slow food, which means purchasing local and sustainable food that has been carefully cooked, became a global movement. Slow food unavoidably stimulates the interest of the Western world in slowing down the pace of life, which does not require wolfing down low nutrient meals between back-to-back meetings, but advocates respecting the tradition and enjoyment of using time.

When we consider the alternate lifestyle that leads to stress and depression, it is a significant sign to poor health, woeful issues like headaches, sleep issues, digestive disorders, depression, and anxiety. With this in mind, slow living isn’t only more enjoyable; it is also a major boon for one’s overall health.

Kathleen DeVos, a mental psychology expert, said, “To me, slow living is as much about how we’re structuring our lives and spending our time as it is how we are relating to our time and the things in our life.”

The resolution to live a more thoughtful lifestyle is common. About 25% of Americans who made resolutions in 2022 focused on the intention to live a healthier life. Another 21% stated they were resolving to commit to their personal improvement or happiness. However, the idea of working towards a goal seems to be antithetical to the concept of slow living. After all, the point is to slow down, live more, and work less. Plus, many struggle to actually meet their resolutions.

Without a doubt, career demands and financial realities can outshine the possibility of slow living for many. However, if you find yourself in a dilemma of nine to nine and find it unbearable, then you must make a change. For those of you working in busy environments with urgent deadlines, the Pomodoro Techniques are ways to call in slowness into your daily life.