VOA常速英语:Turning the Corner on Wildlife Trafficking

The illegal trafficking of endangered wildlife has escalated to alarming levels.In 2015, poachers killed 1175 rhinos just in South Africa, compared to 13 in 2007. Annually, around 30,000 elephants were killed for their ivory tusks to make a profit.
非法贩卖濒危野生动物的现象已经严重到令人发指的程度。 2015年，仅仅在南非地区，偷猎者就杀死了1175只犀牛。而在2007年，这一数字仅仅为13。每年大约有3万只大象被杀害，偷猎者以此攫取象牙，谋取利润。

As a result of poaching and trafficking, many iconic, endangered species are on the verge of extinction.But there is much more at stake here, said Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs William Brownfield.These crimes are not committed by small-time poachers, but by well-equipped, well-organized, global criminal networks,and they are aided by a web of corrupt and criminal facilitators.
由于偷猎和贩卖的盛行，许多标志性的濒危物种正濒临灭绝。然而，国际毒品和执法事务的助理秘书长William Brownfield说道，更加令人堪忧的问题是，这些罪行并非为一些普通的小团体罪犯所为，而是一些装备精良、组织严密的全球犯罪网络。并且这些犯罪网络背后有一大批腐败犯罪团伙不断为其提供资助。

“These are organized, efficient, often violent and well-funded networks.They are responsible for fueling not only the depletion of natural resources, but also undermining the rule of law, causing permanent harm to communities, local economies,and to the environment,fomenting instability, and providing a significant source of funds used by violent cartels, gangs, and even terrorists.”
“这些团伙都是组织严密，闻风而动，通常是穷凶极恶而又资金雄厚。其罪行不仅包括攫取自然资源，还有亵渎法律制度，对所在社区、当地经济以及自然环境造成了永久伤害，加剧了动荡局势。除此之外，他们还为一些暴力团伙、组织甚至是恐怖分子提供了重要的资金来源。”

In response to this escalation, in 2013 President Barack Obama established the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking ,co-chaired by the Departments of State, Interior, and Justice, to coordinate a whole-of-government approach to stop illegal activities that threaten the future survival of many species of wildlife.This, and other efforts by the United States and its partners around the globe, have caused a turning point in the fight against wildlife trafficking.
为了应对这种升级趋势，奥巴马总统在2013年成立了专门打击野生动物贩卖的总统工作队。由国务院、内政部和司法部联手管理。以此协调整个政府的工作，打击威胁到许多野生物种未来生存的非法活动。美国的这个举动及其同全球各国所做的其他努力，使得打击野生动物贩卖的进程出现了新的转折点。

For example, the State Department has partnered with the NGO African Wildlife Foundation (AWF)to build regional law enforcement cooperation in Eastern Africa, develop a canine program in key ports in Africa,and elevate the issue of illegal online trade of wildlife, and implementation is underway.
例如，国务院已经同非政府组织非洲野生动物基金会联手，在东非地区建立区域执法合作。在非洲的重要港口安置警犬，提高对非法野生动物网络交易的关注度，并且这些措施都在执行之中。