VOA常速英语:More Help for Endangered Elephants

In a significant move to protect one of the world’s most cherished species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this month completed a rulemaking process under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to institute a near-total ban on the domestic commercial trade of African elephant ivory.
作为保护这一世界上最珍稀的物种的重要一步，美国鱼类和野生动物保护协会这个月完成了一项规则的制定，在濒危物种法案（ESA）的指导下，几乎完全禁止了美国国内的非洲象牙贸易。

The rule, effective June 6th,fulfills restrictions outlined under President Obama’s 2013 Executive Order on Combating Wildlife Trafficking. It substantially limits imports, exports and sales of African elephant ivory across state lines.
这项规则从6月6日开始实施，概述了奥巴马总统在2013年颁布的打击野生动物非法交易的行政命令，并将这些禁止命令纳入到了规则中。这份规则在很大程度上对全美非洲象牙的进口、出口和销售进行了限制。

Wildlife trafficking reduces the economic, social and environmental benefits of wildlife while generating billions of dollars for organized criminal enterprises, contributing to an illegal economy, fueling instability and undermining security.
非法交易野生动物的行为对与野生动物相关的经济、社会和环境利益带来了损害，同时耗费数十亿美元来建设有组织的犯罪企业，促进了非法经济的发展，助长了不稳定并且破坏了安全。

The final rule prohibits most commerce in ivory but makes specific, limited exceptions for certain pre-existing manufactured items -- such as musical instruments, furniture pieces and firearms -- that contain less than 200 grams of ivory and meet other specific criteria.Antiques, as defined under the ESA, are also exempt from the prohibitions.
这项最终规则禁止了大多数象牙贸易，但是却给某些之前已经存在的象牙加工品提供了特殊的、有限的例外—例如乐器、家具和枪支，这些东西含有象牙的部分重量不足200克，并且满足其他一些特殊的规定。根据濒危物种法案，被鉴定为古董的物品也被豁免，不属于被禁品之列。

This rule is limited to African elephant ivory and does not further regulate ivory derived from other species, such as walrus, whale and mammoth.
这项规则的禁止范围只是非洲象牙，并没有对其他物种的牙齿采取进一步的规范，例如海象、鲸鱼和猛犸象。

The new rule will provide federal agents with clearer lines of demarcation to identify illegal ivory.Desire for elephant ivory, mostly in Asia,is so great that it grossly outstrips the legal supply and creates a void in the marketplace that ivory traffickers are eager to fill.Perpetuating legal trade only serves to stimulate this consumer demand and further threaten wild elephant populations.
这份新规则将会给联邦特工更加清晰明确的界限定义，从而区分哪些是非法象牙。大多数对象牙的需求都来自亚洲，这些需求是如此巨大以致于合法的象牙贸易根本难以满足，非法象牙贩子们迫切希望填补这部分巨大的市场空缺。长期存在的合法象牙贸易只会刺激象牙消费需求，并且更进一步威胁到野生大象的数量。

During a recent three-year period, an estimated 100,000 elephants were killed for their ivory,an average of approximately one every 15 minutes, and poaching continues at an alarming rate. The carcasses of illegally killed elephants now litter some of Africa’s premiere parks. Elephants are under threat even in areas that were once thought to be safe havens.
在最近三年来，估计有10万头大象被猎杀取牙，平均每15分钟就有一头大象死去，大象偷猎仍然在以一个惊人的速度进行着。被非法猎杀的大象尸体现在像垃圾一样堆放在非洲一些重要的公园里。即使在那些曾经被认为是安全的地方，大象现在也正受到威胁。

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, who serves as co-chair of the President’s Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking, said the United States hopes that “other nations will act quickly and decisively to stop the flow of blood ivory by implementing similar regulations, which are crucial to ensuring our grandchildren and their children know these iconic species.”
内政部长萨利·朱厄尔是“总统打击野生动物走私特遣队”的联合主席，她说美国希望“其他国家采取迅速而果断的行动，通过实施类似的政策来停止血腥的象牙贸易，这些措施至关重要，因为那确保我们的子子孙孙在将来能够有机会认识了解这些标志性物种。”