為什么小熊貓瀕臨滅絕

為什么小熊貓瀕臨滅絕

Popular and distinctive, known for their kitten-like faces and ruddy coats, red pandas are endangered with their numbers decreasing. Not closely related to iconic giant pandas, red pandas are found only in isolated mountainous areas in the high forests of Asia. Because their populations are fragmented, it’s difficult to know for sure how many red pandas there are, but the WWF estimates there are fewer than 10,000 left in the wild.

小熊貓因其像小貓一樣的臉和紅潤(rùn)的皮毛而聞名，但隨著數(shù)量的減少，它們正瀕臨滅絕。小熊貓與標(biāo)志性的大熊貓關(guān)系并不密切，它們只生活在亞洲偏遠(yuǎn)的山區(qū)和茂密的森林中。由于小熊貓的數(shù)量分散，很難確切知道世界上到底有多少小熊貓，但世界自然基金會(huì)估計(jì)野生小熊貓的數(shù)量不足1萬(wàn)只。

There are fewer than 10,000 red pandas left in the wild.Nguia Charrad / EyeEm / Getty Images

Red pandas only live in small, mountain territories in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal. In a 2020 comprehensive genetic study, researchers found that Chinese red pandas and Himalayan red pandas were two distinct species. They said the Himalayan red panda needs more urgent protection because of its lower genetic diversity and smaller population size.

小熊貓只生活在不丹、中國(guó)、印度、緬甸和尼泊爾的小山區(qū)。在2020年的一項(xiàng)全面基因研究中，研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)中國(guó)小熊貓和喜馬拉雅小熊貓是兩個(gè)截然不同的物種。他們說(shuō)，喜馬拉雅小熊貓需要更迫切的保護(hù)，因?yàn)樗倪z傳多樣性較低，種群規(guī)模較小。

Threats

威脅

Habitat loss is the main threat to the red panda’s survival. Human growth in the area, combined with climate change has led to the fragmentation and loss of livable land. In addition, the red panda has faced dangers from hunting and poaching.

棲息地的喪失是小熊貓生存的主要威脅。人類在該地區(qū)的發(fā)展，加上氣候變化，導(dǎo)致了可居住土地的破碎和喪失。此外，小熊貓還面臨著捕獵和偷獵的危險(xiǎn)。

Habitat Loss and Deforestation

棲息地喪失和森林砍伐

Red pandas mostly sleep during the day. Freder / Getty Images

Red pandas live in high-altitude forests where they prefer to be near water. They are mostly active at dusk and dawn, and they sleep during most of the day. Their ruddy fur helps them blend into the canopy of fir trees where branches are covered with reddish-brown clumps of moss and white lichens.

小熊貓生活在高海拔的森林里，它們喜歡靠近水。它們大多在黃昏和黎明活躍，白天大部分時(shí)間都在睡覺(jué)。它們紅潤(rùn)的皮毛幫助它們?nèi)谌肜渖紭?shù)的樹(shù)冠中，那里的樹(shù)枝上覆蓋著紅褐色的苔蘚和白色的地衣。

Natural disasters such as landslides, floods, cyclones, and heavy snow and rainfall all have destroyed habitat. Forest fires, invasive plant species, and issues with bamboo flowering and the death of the plant have had effects on the red panda’s habitat, says the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

滑坡、洪水、颶風(fēng)、大雪和暴雨等自然災(zāi)害都破壞了它們的棲息地。國(guó)際自然保護(hù)聯(lián)盟(IUCN)表示，森林火災(zāi)、植物入侵、竹子開(kāi)花問(wèn)題以及竹子的死亡已經(jīng)對(duì)小熊貓的棲息地產(chǎn)生了影響。

Physical Threats

人身威脅

Red pandas also face threats from hunting and poaching. The IUCN reports that illegal poaching and smuggling appears to be increasing, as hunters take the animals for their distinctive pelt and meat. The WWF says red panda fur hats have been found for sale in Bhutan.

小熊貓還面臨著捕獵和偷獵的威脅。國(guó)際自然保護(hù)聯(lián)盟報(bào)告稱，由于獵人們獵取這種動(dòng)物特有的皮毛和肉，非法偷獵和走私似乎在增加。世界自然基金會(huì)表示，在不丹發(fā)現(xiàn)有小熊貓毛皮帽出售。

What We Can Do

我們能做什么

Although the red panda is endangered, steps are being made to save the species and its habitat. According to the IUCN, China has 46 protected areas, covering about 65% of the species’ habitat in the country. There are at least 19 protected areas in India, five in Bhutan, and three in Myanmar.

雖然小熊貓瀕臨滅絕，但人們正在采取措施拯救這個(gè)物種及其棲息地。根據(jù)世界自然保護(hù)聯(lián)盟(IUCN)的數(shù)據(jù)，中國(guó)有46個(gè)保護(hù)區(qū)，覆蓋了大約65%的該物種棲息地。印度至少有19個(gè)保護(hù)區(qū)，不丹有5個(gè)，緬甸有3個(gè)。

The Red Panda Network is a nonprofit organization that protects red pandas and their habitat. They work with local community groups to establish wildlife corridors, train “forest guardians” to raise awareness about red pandas, and work with villagers to establish protected areas.

小熊貓網(wǎng)絡(luò)是一個(gè)保護(hù)小熊貓及其棲息地的非盈利組織。他們與當(dāng)?shù)厣鐓^(qū)團(tuán)體合作建立野生動(dòng)物走廊，培訓(xùn)“森林衛(wèi)士”提高對(duì)小熊貓的認(rèn)識(shí)，并與村民合作建立保護(hù)區(qū)。

The group also monitors panda populations and researches how they are changing over time. You can get involved by spreading awareness, donating and fundraising, taking part in ecotourism, and working against the red panda trade.

該組織還監(jiān)測(cè)大熊貓的數(shù)量，并研究它們是如何隨時(shí)間變化的。你可以通過(guò)傳播意識(shí)、捐款和籌款、參與生態(tài)旅游、反對(duì)小熊貓貿(mào)易來(lái)參與其中。

The WWF is also working to protect red pandas and their habitats. Because more than a third of potential habitat is in Nepal, the group works with yak herders and other groups there to lower their impact on the red panda’s habitat. They have encouraged herders to sell briquettes made of yak dung. They can be used for fuel instead of cutting down red panda habitat and are an alternative source of income.

世界自然基金會(huì)也在努力保護(hù)小熊貓和它們的棲息地。由于超過(guò)三分之一的潛在棲息地在尼泊爾，該組織與那里的牦牛牧民和其他組織合作，以降低他們對(duì)小熊貓棲息地的影響。他們鼓勵(lì)牧民出售牛糞制的煤塊。它們可以用作燃料，而不是減少小熊貓的棲息地，而且是另一種收入來(lái)源。

The WWF also monitors red pandas and their habitat across India, Nepal, and Bhutan to help understand the species. You can help by pledging to protect the planet or by making a donation to virtually adopt a red panda.

世界自然基金會(huì)還監(jiān)測(cè)了印度、尼泊爾和不丹各地的小熊貓及其棲息地，以幫助了解這個(gè)物種。你可以承諾保護(hù)地球，或者捐款來(lái)領(lǐng)養(yǎng)一只小熊貓。