A small insect is getting a lot of attention in the United States. The rusty patched bumblebee (大黄蜂) is the first of its species to be declared endangered in the lower 48 states—meaning every state except Alaska and Hawaii. The rusty patched bumblebee is named for a rust-colored line on its back.
The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced this month it was adding the bee to its endangered species list. The insects are "on the brink of extinction, " according to the service. It said the bees were once found in 28 states. But there now are only small populations remaining in 13 states. The government agency will make a plan to help the dying bees recover. The agency said that such a plan might help other insects,like butterflies.
U.S. officials think land owners can take small steps to help the rusty patched bumblebee. They say land owners can be friendlier towards bees by using native plants in their gardens. The insects directly fertilize many kinds of fruit and vegetable crops. And they fertilize grain crops used to feed cattle and milk cows. It costs billions of dollars to duplicate the job the bees do for free. Land owners are also being urged to cut back on their use of pesticide products. The officials also suggest that gardeners leave their plants alone at the end of the summer instead of cutting them. That way, the bees will have a place to live over the winter.
The Fish and Wildlife Service says the rusty patched bumblebee was added to the endangered species list partly because of habitat loss. Other reasons were disease, pesticides and climate change. Officials are worried that other bees will suffer, too. Another species of bees in Hawaii is also endangered.
Red squirrels(松鼠) , a kind of animal once lost from their native woodlands, have been returned to the north-west Highlands, early results of a reintroduction(重新引进) project show.
The new population has naturally increased since they were reintroduced to north-west Scotland last year. The animal had disappeared as a result of the reduction of forests, as well as illness and competition from the introduced non-native grey squirrel. However, Trees for Life—the organization behind the project—is hopeful that red squirrels will continue to add to their 138,000 number and continue their increase.
"Early results shows that this could be a real wildlife success story. The new squirrel populations are not only living in their new homes, they are also starting to spread out into new areas, with squirrels being sighted as far as 15km away," said Becky Priestley, Trees for Life's wildlife officer.
The first relocation began in the spring of 2016, through to this year, when the first 33 squirrels from Inverness-shire and Moray were set free at Shieldaig in Wester Ross. Another 22 were set free at the Coulin estate, next to Beinn Eighe, plus 30 at Plockton, which is partly owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
The red squirrel, found throughout Eurasia, has experienced a great population reduction in recent years. In 2007, just 25,000 could be found throughout the UK after a one-time high of 3.5 million. This is often because of the fact that their grey cousins have a larger appetite(食欲) and eat most of the food in the forest. Reds are also more likely to be influenced by viruses(病毒) than greys, dying up to 25 times quicker.
Grey squirrels first came to England from North America in 1876 as a decorative species. However, it was not until 1930 that the damage they did was realized, when it was almost too late for the reds.
Now, though, red squirrels appear to naturally take over their land again. During 2016, they spread beyond Shieldaig, with one sighting eight miles away beyond Loch Torridon. One was seen recently near Nostie, about five miles from the release site, and there have been sightings further.
China has made great improvements in environmental protection during the past 70 years. Each species(物种) on Earth has a role to play in the ecosystem.
In recent decades, a series of wildlife-protection movements have been carried out by the central government. The giant panda and the crested ibis are among these success stories.
The giant panda used to have a population of 1,114 in the 1970s. It now totals 1,864 thanks to 52 protection areas. By the end of last year, seven of the nine pandas released had survived in the wild. In 1981, only seven crested ibises were found in Yangxian county, Shaanxi Province. Since then, breeding programs have helped the population reach 2,000. China has even sent crested ibises to Japan and South Korea in recent years, to help with the species' survival.
Key projects will be continually carried out to improve protection, including making the lists of wild animals and plants under State protection, and also fighting against illegal wildlife trade, which includes ivory(象牙).
A. As environmental damage has increased, signs of change have appeared around the world.
B. Another species was once thought to be extinct.
C. Scientists have worked to feed pandas and then release them into the wild.
D. People call for immediate protection of the remaining species.
E. Several species in danger of extinction have made impressive progress thanks to the methods.
F. China will continue its efforts of the wildlife protection.
G. Protecting wildlife is, without doubt, an important part.
Some of the greatest problems we face today are concerned with the gradual destruction of our environment. Brown clouds; wildlife 1; polluted water. These 2 all seem so huge. So my family does what we can. We take cloth bags to stores instead of using plastic bags. We walk where we don't have to 3.
But does it do any good?
I recently learned something about flamingos(火烈鸟). These beautiful birds gather in 4 groups of a thousand or more. Every year, when the time 5 for migration, a few flamingos start the process by taking off from the lake. But 6 of the others seem to notice, so the tiny group returns.
However, the next day they 7 again. This time a few more struggle along with them, but the vast majority still 8 no attention, so these pioneers come back.
The 9 continues for several more days. Every time a few more birds join in but, 10 the thousands of others still take no 11, the great migration plan is once again 12.
Then one day something 13. The same small group of birds takes wing and a tiny number more join in, just as before. And this time their total number, though still quite 14, is enough to tip the balance. As one, the whole group takes flight and the migration 15. What a 16 sight it must be—thousands of flamingos taking to the sky at once!
A few can make a 17. It's true that all of the great problems of the world have been solved because of the 18 efforts of a few.
If you believe in a cause(事业), don't 19! Others will someday take notice and together we will 20 even our greatest problems.
Daisy is a girl who cares about our environment. She always longs to help (endanger) species of wildlife. One day, she (wake) up and found a flying carpet which took her to many (place) to experience something amazing. In Tibet, Daisy saw an antelope looking sad and it told her the species was being killed. Then the carpet showed her a place there was some wildlife protection. There she came across elephant, from whom she knew they used to be hunted mercy. But now good things are being done to save local wildlife. Knowing that, Daisy burst into (laugh) in relief. At the end of the journey, she met a monkey (rub) itself to protect himself from mosquitoes. The monkey asked her to pay (much) attention to the rainforest. Finally, Daisy (full) understood the meaning of no rainforest, no animals, no drugs.
