1 . At least 200 elephants have died in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe in the past two months due to a serious drought (干旱) in the country. National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesman Tinashe Farawo told The Associated Press. Other animals, including giraffes, zebras , hippos and buffaloes are also dying due to the drought."The situation cannot improve until it rains, "Farawo said.
"Almost every animal is being affected," Farawo said. "Of course, elephants are easily noticed, but some bird species are seriously affected because they can only breed (繁殖) in certain tree heights and those trees are being knocked down by elephants."
"In a desperate attempt to locate food and water, animals have come in the park and nearby communities, threatening human populations as well. Thirty-three people have died because of these animals this year," the park said.
"Six hundred elephants and two lion prides will be moved to less crowded parks. A pack of wild dogs, 50 buffaloes, 40 giraffes and 2,000 impalas will also be relocated, " Farawo said.
"The animals have exceeded their ecological carrying capacity (生态承载力)," he added."If the populations go unchecked, the animals will threaten the very ecosystem they depend on for survival."
Typically, park leaders follow a policy of not intervening (干预) to help the animals , but the hard conditions have persuaded them otherwise. Fearing more deaths before the rainy season, they have started bringing in food to help the animals, which usually rely on natural vegetation.
"We used to say nature should take its course,"said wildlife officer Munyaradzi Dzoro."We are now forced to intervene. We are not sure when and how we will receive the rain. To avoid losing animals, we have to intervene to maintain population sizes.
In addition to a lack of food and water, muddy ponds have turned into death traps for the animals. Many have gotten stuck in the clay (泥土) while attempting to reach Long Pool, the park's largest watering hole, which has shrunk to 5% of its normal size, the Associated Press reports.
The drought has affected an estimated 11 million people, according to the World Food Program, which is planning large-scale food distribution.
1. Why are some bird species being affected?| A．They can't find enough food and water. |
| B．They lose many proper breeding places. |
| C．They are often killed by big land animals. |
| D．They become ill easily because of other animals' death. |
| A．Building fences between the park and nearby communities. |
| B．Killing the animals which went into human communities. |
| C．Providing enough water for the animals in the park. |
| D．Moving some animals to less crowded places. |
| A．A healthy ecosystem. | B．A policy of not intervening. |
| C．Large populations of animals. | D．Limited ecological carrying capacity. |
| A．their clay is very attractive | B．much of their water is gone |
| C．they have become much deeper | D．there is much food in their water |
