为什么小熊猫濒临灭绝

为什么小熊猫濒临灭绝

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.

小熊猫因其像小猫一样的脸和红润的皮毛而闻名，但随着数量的减少，它们正濒临灭绝。小熊猫与标志性的大熊猫关系并不密切，它们只生活在亚洲偏远的山区和茂密的森林中。由于小熊猫的数量分散，很难确切知道世界上到底有多少小熊猫，但世界自然基金会估计野生小熊猫的数量不足1万只。

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.

小熊猫只生活在不丹、中国、印度、缅甸和尼泊尔的小山区。在2020年的一项全面基因研究中，研究人员发现中国小熊猫和喜马拉雅小熊猫是两个截然不同的物种。他们说，喜马拉雅小熊猫需要更迫切的保护，因为它的遗传多样性较低，种群规模较小。

Threats

威胁

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.

栖息地的丧失是小熊猫生存的主要威胁。人类在该地区的发展，加上气候变化，导致了可居住土地的破碎和丧失。此外，小熊猫还面临着捕猎和偷猎的危险。

Habitat Loss and Deforestation

栖息地丧失和森林砍伐

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.

小熊猫生活在高海拔的森林里，它们喜欢靠近水。它们大多在黄昏和黎明活跃，白天大部分时间都在睡觉。它们红润的皮毛帮助它们融入冷杉树的树冠中，那里的树枝上覆盖着红褐色的苔藓和白色的地衣。

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、飓风、大雪和暴雨等自然灾害都破坏了它们的栖息地。国际自然保护联盟(IUCN)表示，森林火灾、植物入侵、竹子开花问题以及竹子的死亡已经对小熊猫的栖息地产生了影响。

Physical Threats

人身威胁

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.

小熊猫还面临着捕猎和偷猎的威胁。国际自然保护联盟报告称，由于猎人们猎取这种动物特有的皮毛和肉，非法偷猎和走私似乎在增加。世界自然基金会表示，在不丹发现有小熊猫毛皮帽出售。

What We Can Do

我们能做什么

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.

虽然小熊猫濒临灭绝，但人们正在采取措施拯救这个物种及其栖息地。根据世界自然保护联盟(IUCN)的数据，中国有46个保护区，覆盖了大约65%的该物种栖息地。印度至少有19个保护区，不丹有5个，缅甸有3个。

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.

小熊猫网络是一个保护小熊猫及其栖息地的非盈利组织。他们与当地社区团体合作建立野生动物走廊，培训“森林卫士”提高对小熊猫的认识，并与村民合作建立保护区。

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.

该组织还监测大熊猫的数量，并研究它们是如何随时间变化的。你可以通过传播意识、捐款和筹款、参与生态旅游、反对小熊猫贸易来参与其中。

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.

世界自然基金会也在努力保护小熊猫和它们的栖息地。由于超过三分之一的潜在栖息地在尼泊尔，该组织与那里的牦牛牧民和其他组织合作，以降低他们对小熊猫栖息地的影响。他们鼓励牧民出售牛粪制的煤块。它们可以用作燃料，而不是减少小熊猫的栖息地，而且是另一种收入来源。

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.

世界自然基金会还监测了印度、尼泊尔和不丹各地的小熊猫及其栖息地，以帮助了解这个物种。你可以承诺保护地球，或者捐款来领养一只小熊猫。