【推荐1】International Tiger Day is an annual celebration to raise the awareness of tiger conservation. It's held on 29 July. Governments and citizens across the world organize awareness programs on that day to spread the importance of protecting tigers.

From ancient times, tigers were the subject of constant attraction for their beauty, size and sometimes mythical stories related to them. People's fascination （迷恋） for tigers is obvious from the fact that tigers are still a part of many national symbols and flags. Tigers are the largest cat species. Unfortunately, the population of tigers is fast decreasing. Every part of tigers from tail to skin to nail is traded in the illegal market for very high values. Many tigers are hunted, which is one of the key threats to their existence. They are also caught and raised as pets. 97 percent of the world tiger populations decreased in the last 100 years and only 3，890 tigers are left. If tigers get extinct, we will lose a species. And it also means that enough forests have been destroyed, which may endanger many other species.

For us, tigers are symbols of wildlife's fighting for survival. It reminds us of the dangers we face because of people's over-exploitation （过度开发） of the nature. It's an opportunity as well. Many efforts are on the way to double the tiger population by 2022. Strict national and international laws are against hunting and trading tigers. As a result, the number of tigers in the wild has risen for the first time in more than 100 years. Even though this is just a small increase, it's a huge symbolic victory in our efforts against the destruction of forests and wildlife. It's very important that we all join together in this effort, not only to save tigers, but also to save our forests.

【推荐2】From the world’s last seven to a global population of more than 5,000, China spent nearly 40 years bringing back crested ibises(朱鹗)from the edge of extinction.

With its typical red crest and face, as well as a long black mouth and snow-white feathers, the crested ibis is known as “the oriental gem” in China. They were once widespread in East Asia and Siberia until the 20th century when hunting, ecological damage and increased human activities drove the birds to near extinction.

In 1981, the entire species around the world was down to the seven crested ibises which were found only in Yangxian County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and deep in the Qinling Mountains, making Qinling, a natural boundary between China's north and south,the last shelter of the wild birds.

Since 1981, the local government of Yangxian County has put forward four bans for the protection of the species, prohibiting activities including hunting in the birds' living areas,cutting down trees where they nest, using chemicals in their food-finding areas, and firing guns in their breeding(繁殖)areas. The Chinese government arranged special funds to protect the habitat of crested ibises, sealing off mountains to plant trees in the birds' living areas.China started the artificial breeding of crested ibises in 1991 and had bred more than 400 birds in Shaanxi as of last year.

Years of constant effort have brought promising results. It is estimated that there are more than 5,000 crested ibises in the world now, and a majority of them live in Shaanxi. The bird's habitat in China has risen from less than 5 square km in 1981 to the current 15,000 square km.

“It is lucky that the crested ibis, an ancient bird, is still flying around,” said Zan Linsen, head of the Shaanxi Academy of Forestry. “The conservation story of crested ibises not only shows us the power of ancient life, but also the necessity and urgency of ecological environment protection.”

【推荐1】When you love working out, taking a break from exercise can seem a waste of time — there are training plans to follow and goals to be met. So, what’s the problem? According to new research, excessive training can be damaging to mental well-being.

‌“The benefits of regular physical activity are well-established, but it’s possible to have too much of a good thing, says Janet, an expert at physical training. But how do you know if you’re doing too much? ”Over-exercising can mean training for too long or too intensely without enough rest for your personal limits,‌” she says. “Some of us may feel unable to stop.‌” Indeed, one research shows almost 40 percent of us feel guilty if we miss a workout and less than 59 percent regularly take a rest day. So should you be taking more time out?

By exercising beyond your limits, not only could you injure your body and reduce muscle mass, you could also end up feeling anxious, too. Over-exercising can impact your mood, relationships and ability to function in other areas of your life, warns Janet. “Exercise releases the stress hormone cortisol. For most people, this can help you better manage stress levels. Over-exercising, however, can lead to increased levels of cortisol in the blood stream which can lead to poor sleep, depression and problems with memory and concentration.‌”

Still not convinced? If you find it hard to put down your trainers, you’re not alone. Up to 10 percent of endurance athletes are affected by overtraining syndrome, with common effects including muscle soreness, persistent fatigue and even mental breakdown, says Professor James. “In addition, over-exercise can stimulate hyper inflammation, which has a severe effect on brain health.‌” There is a simple solution, however. “It has been shown that exhaustion may be delayed almost indefinitely by frequent and regular short breaks,‌” assures James.