Kenya is losing an average of 100 of its 2,000 lions each year because of growing human settlements, increasing farming, climate change and diseases, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
“Lions have a special place in Kenyans’ life,” said Paul Udoto, a spokesman for the organization. “Other than being the symbol of national strength, they are among the Big Five, a main attraction for visitors to Kenya.”
There were 2,749 lions in Kenya in 2002 and their population dropped to 2,280 by 2004 and to about 2,000 today, according to KWS figures.
“The fall of the lion population is worrying and every effort needs to be made to make sure that Kenya either protects its population of 2,000 lions at present or increases the numbers to an ecologically (生态上地) acceptable level,” said Mr. Udoto.
“There is no doubt that the numbers are in free fall. I’d be surprised if they even last as long as 20 years,” said Laurence Frank, project director of Living With Lions, a Kenya-based animal protection organization. “When I first came here 30 years ago, I would always hear lions roaring across the land at night and see their tracks in the morning. Now that is very rare.”
“The reason is simple. As the numbers of people grow and the numbers of cows increase, they take up much of the lion’s space. Alongside that there are other ways, including poisoning, to kill lions.”
Animal lovers are making a new strategy to save the animals. Part of the measures will include tracking lions fitted with radio collars (无线电项圈) in the Amboseli area in southern Kenya, close to the border with Tanzania.
Wildlife officials in Tanzania face similar challenges in protecting their lions, but there is far less human encroachment（侵犯) on the animals’ homeland there than in Kenya.
小题1:The lion population is falling in Kenya for the following reasons EXCEPT __________.
A．climate change
B．too many visitors
C．disease
D．human activities小题2:In Paragraph 2, Paul Udoto wants to show __________.
A．the importance of lions in Kenya
B．the tourist attractions in Kenya
C．Kenyan’s special lifestyle
D．Kenya’s national symbol小题3:We know from Laurence Frank’s words that __________.
A．lions are losing their attraction for visitors to Kenya
B．the lion population will be controlled from now on
C．lions will disappear within twenty years in Kenya if not protected
D．more cows are needed to feed lions in Kenya小题4: What is the main idea of the passage?
A．Kenya is losing its Big Five.
B．Kenyan wildlife is in danger.
C．Lions face extinction in Kenya.
D．Lions’ place in Kenyans’ life is falling.小题5:What will the following passage most probably talk about?
A．Lions’ past living condition in Kenya.
B．Ways of improving lions’ condition.
C．Radio collars tracing lions.
D．Lions’ present living condition in Tanzania
