Ahighway project designed to benefit wild animals has begun construction in California. The overpass, which had its groundbreaking ceremony in April, stretches over a section of the 10-lane US 101 highway to the northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The introduction of a wildlife bridge is intended to save the lives of animals in the area, in particular the endangered mountain lion species.
This part of Southern California is riddled with freeways, and over 25 mountain lions have been hit and killed here since 2002. There are now fewer than 13 mountain lions left in the area. With such a small population, inbreeding has caused a dangerous lack of genetic diversity. Many young mountain lions have been born with tail and testicle defects. The National Wildlife Federation hopes the new bridge will allow mountain lions to expand their territory and increase their populations.
The wildlife bridge team spent ten years planning the crossing, but it isn’t scheduled to be completed until 2025. About 60 percent of its US$90 million costs have been funded by private donations, which took time to collect. Additionally, the bridge had to be carefully planned. It will be covered with plants to help it blend in with the surrounding natural landscape. The team also implemented special sound and light barriers to encourage nocturnal animals to cross, despite the presence of road noise and light.
Photo courtesy of Flickr 照片：Flickr提供
If anyone needed to justify the crossing’s high costs, they need look no further than Canada. There, Banff National Park has over 40 wildlife crossings and has seen a 90 percent reduction in wildlife deaths from traffic. Thanks to the reduction in accidents, the park has found its crossings often pay for themselves within a decade or two. So, whether someone believes in spending large sums of money to help wildlife or not, there are also substantial human benefits.
一條旨在造福野生動物的高速公路工程已於加州開始建設。這座從美國101號高速公路十線道的其中一段，橫跨至洛杉磯市中心西北部的天橋，於今年四月舉行動土儀式。引入野生動物陸橋旨在拯救該地區動物的生命，特別是瀕臨滅絕的美洲獅物種。
南加州這一帶遍布數條高速公路，自西元2002年以來，已有超過二十五頭美洲獅在這裡被撞死。該地區現在只剩下不到十三頭美洲獅。由於該物種數量如此之少，近親繁殖更導致遺傳多樣性嚴重缺乏。許多年幼的美洲獅出生時尾巴和睾丸都有缺陷。美國國家野生動物同盟希望這座新橋能使美洲獅擴大牠們的活動範圍並增加其數量。
野生動物陸橋團隊花了十年時間規劃此通道，但這座陸橋預計要到西元2025年才能成。其中美金九千萬元的成本中，約有百分之六十源自私人捐款，需要花時間募集。此外，這座陸橋必須審慎規劃。它將為植被所覆蓋，以助於它與周圍的自然景觀融為一體。儘管道路噪音及光線仍存在，該團隊實施特殊的聲光屏障，以助夜行性動物穿越此通道。
如果有人需要被證明此通道的高成本是合理的，眼前加拿大就是最好的案例。在那裡，班夫國家公園設有四十多處野生動物通道並見證交通導致的野生動物死亡數量減少了百分之九十。由於意外事故減少，班夫國家公園發現其通道通常在十年、二十年內能夠回本。因此，無論人們是否認為花大筆資金幫助野生動物是正確的，這也同樣擁有可觀的人類效益。
MORE INFORMATION
overpass n. 天橋；立交橋
groundbreaking ceremony 動土儀式
inbreeding n. 近親繁殖
testicle n. 睪丸
defect n. 缺陷；瑕疵
federation n. 同盟；聯盟
nocturnal adj. 夜行性的；夜間的
look no further (than) 就在眼前；無需再尋
KEY VOCABULARY
1. endangered adj. 瀕臨絕種的；遭遇危險的
This forest is protected because endangered animals live here; we want to guard the few of them that are left.
這片森林因為有瀕臨絕種的動物居住而受到保護；我們想要保衛僅存少數的牠們。
2. be riddled with 充斥；滿是
Kevin’s report was riddled with errors, so I fixed it up before turning it in to the teacher.
凱文的報告錯誤百出，所以我在繳交給老師前將它修正。
3. diversity n. 多樣性；差異
There is a greater diversity of wildlife in the Amazon rainforest than anywhere else in the world.
亞馬遜雨林中，野生生物的多樣性比世界上任何地方都還要豐富。
4. expand v. 擴展；增加
The successful businessman decided to expand his company and open a few branches abroad.
這名成功的商人決定拓展他的企業，並在海外開幾間分部。
5. blend in (with) 融入；混入
I want my new furniture to blend in with my new house.
我想要我的新家具與新屋融為一體。
6. barrier n. 屏障；障礙物
The Great Wall of China was built to place a barrier between China and barbarian invaders.
中國的萬里長城被建造來作為中國與蠻夷入侵者間的屏障。
7. justify v. 證明…的正當性
The harmful effects of plastic pollution justify the government’s decision to ban single-use plastic items.
塑膠汙染的有害影響證實政府禁止一次性塑膠製品的決定是正確的。
8. pay for itself / themselves 回本；損益相當
Abby saves so much money on gas and maintenance that her new car has already paid for itself.
艾比在汽油及維修方面節省了很多錢，以至於她的新車已經回本了。
9. substantial adj. 可觀的；重大的
Whoever finds the missing diamonds will receive a substantial reward from the owner.
尋獲遺失鑽石的人將可得到失主可觀的獎賞。
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