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雅思高频口语：wild animal之穿山甲

      穿山甲是世界上唯一的有鳞哺乳动物。穿山甲属共有八个物种，主要生活在亚洲和非洲地区。它们依靠长舌头和灵敏的嗅觉觅食，是游泳高手。

　　Pangolins are the world’s only scaly mammal. The eight species of pangolin that roam the wilds of Asia and Africa are strong swimmers who rely on their long tongues and heightened sense of smell to find nourishment.

　　遗憾的是，穿山甲也是世界上走私交易最多的哺乳动物。所有八个物种都面临着狩猎和走私的威胁。

　　Sadly however, pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world, and all 8 species face a significant threat from poachers and smugglers.

　　下面是来自世界自然基金会的穿山甲介绍：

　　Often thought of as a reptile, pangolins are actually mammals. They are covered in distinctive scales(鳞) that ward off (避开) predators in the wild. When threatened, pangolins quickly curl into a tight ball and may use their sharp-scaled tails to protect themselves.

　　Known as the “scaly anteater(穿山甲),” pangolins feed exclusively on ants, termites(白蚊) and larvae(幼虫). With no teeth for chewing, a pangolin picks up food with its sticky tongue, which can reach lengths greater than the pangolin’s body.

　　Why are pangolins endangered?

　　Pangolins are the most-trafficked mammals in the world, in high demand by consumers for their meat and their unique scales. More than one million pangolins have been illegally taken from the wild to be used in fashion products and purported medicinal remedies(药物，治疗方法).

　　There are eight species of pangolin, four each in Asia and Africa, and all are under threat, including two species listed as Critically Endangered(极度濒危). Pangolin populations have been devastated by poaching(非法狩猎), including at least 80 percent of pangolins in Asia.

　　Hope for pangolins

　　In 2016, a treaty(条约) of over 180 governments announced an agreement that would end all legal trade of pangolins and further protect the species from extinction. However, illegal trade of the species continues.

　　WWF, together with TRAFFIC, works to protect species from wildlife crime. In Asia, we work to reduce consumer demand for illegal wildlife products with campaigns and partnerships with governments and businesses.

　　WWF also uses advanced technology in its effort to stop illegal trafficking(走私) of wildlife, including using thermal imagery to track poachers within pangolin habitats (栖息地).