歸功於疫情封城的關係，盜獵犀牛銳減了53％ COVID-19 Lockdown Credited with Rhino Poaching Dropping by 53%

During the first six months of 2020, rhino poaching has declined by more than 50% from last year, thanks to the nationwide coronavirus lockdown in South Africa. International and domestic travel restrictions disrupted the global smuggling ring and unexpectedly stopped the illegal international trade in rhino horns.

South Africa has approximately 20,000 rhinos, almost 80% of the world’s remaining rhino population, which makes it a hotspot for rhinoceros poaching. However, the drop in rhino poaching might be just a temporary reprieve. With the slow resumption of flights and reopening of games parks, experts warn a resurgence of killing the endangered mammals.

South Africa deploys anti-poaching squads and builds electric fences around its parks to protect rhinos, elephants, and other animals from poachers.

友善讓你懂 │ 解說

幸虧由於新冠肺炎疫情造成的舉國封鎖政策，在2020年前六個月期間，犀牛盜獵件數下降，降幅超過去年同期50%以上。國際與國內的旅遊禁令，擾亂了跨國走私集團的行動，意外阻擋了非法的犀牛角國際買賣。

南非擁有接近20000頭犀牛，佔了全球將近80%的犀牛數量，這使得南非成為犀牛盜獵的熱區。然而，目前犀牛盜獵案減少，可能只是個暫時緩解的情勢。隨著航班的逐漸復航、以及國家公園的漸次開放，專家警告獵殺這些瀕危哺乳動物的行為也會跟著復甦。

南非在國家公園中佈署了「防範盜獵小組」，也在部分區域建置了通電圍籬來保護犀牛、大象、還有其他的動物們，不再遭受盜獵者的傷害。

輕鬆帶著走 │學習

• credit A to B：A的結果是B造成的；把A當主詞的話，可化為被動句A be credited to B

例句：The outstanding results are credited to their hard work.
如此優異的成果要歸功於他們努力工作。

• credit A with B：能有B這樣的成果，要歸功於A；把A當主詞，則化為被動句 A be credited with B。另外也有習慣用法如credit sb/sth with (Ving) sth，意思是「把（後面sth）這件事歸功於（前面sb/sth）這個人或這件事」；改成被動句就變成 sb/sth be credited with (Ving) sth。

例句：Bruce Lee is credited with promoting KungFu to the West.
功夫推廣到西方世界要歸功於李小龍。

本篇其他相關單字，介紹如下：

• rhino (n.) 犀牛（較口語用法）。rhinoceros (n.) 犀牛，此字以s結尾，但可以表示單數或複數，或是複數也可以寫成rhinoceroses
• poach (v.) 盜獵
• thanks to 幸虧、由於
• smuggle (v.) 走私。smuggling ring 走私集團
• hotspot (n.) 熱點，熱鬧場所，熱門區域
• reprieve (n./v.) 暫時緩解、暫緩中止
• resurgence (n.) 復甦、再興
• mammal (n.) 哺乳類動物