離開
進入《中英對照讀新聞》Lion to be India’s National Animal? Modi Govt mulling to replace Tiger with king of jungle 獅子將成為印度國獸？莫迪政府考慮以叢林之王取代老虎
◎管淑平
The Narendra Modi government is considering a proposal to make lion India’s national animal, pushing out the tiger that has had the coveted status since 1972.
納倫德拉．莫迪政府正考慮一項提案，要以獅子做為印度國獸，擠掉1972年以來就一直享有這個備受覬覦地位的老虎。
The idea has triggered a furore among wildlife activists who called it bizarre, saying it would dilute the campaign to save tigers and pave the way for clearance of industrial projects near tiger sanctuaries.
這個想法引起野生動物運動人士的憤怒，稱此構想莫名其妙，會損及拯救老虎行動，為批准鄰近老虎保育區的工業開發計畫鋪路。
It was Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand Parimal Nathwani, an industrialist, who sent the proposal to the environment ministry. It was then passed on to the National Board for Wild Life （NBWL）, which functions under the ministry.
向環境部提出此案的是工業家、來自賈坎德邦的國會議員帕里瑪．納特瓦尼，此案後來被交給環境部國家野生生物委員會研議。
A standing committee of the board, chaired by environment minister Prakash Javadekar, discussed the issue in March.
由環境部長普拉卡什．賈瓦德卡擔任主席的該會常任委員會已於3月討論此事。
In a recent countrywide assessment, it was found that India is home to more than 2,200 tigers, whereas the Asiatic lion population, estimated at 411, is confined to Gujarat’s Gir.
近期一份全國調查發現，印度現有2200多隻老虎，亞洲獅數量估計為411隻，集中在古加拉特省的吉爾。
Conservationist Bittu Sahgal fumed at the idea. "In India, both tiger and lion are under unbridled attack. It’s best we stay away from renaming charades and focus on enhancement of protection and habitat expansion for both tigers and lions," he said.
保育人士畢圖．薩加爾很氣這個想法。他說，「在印度，老虎和獅子都飽受攻擊。我們最好不要理會重定國獸的幌子，專注於加強對老虎和獅子的保育工作和擴大牠們的棲息地。」
新聞辭典：
covet：動詞，貪求、覬覦、渴望。例如：covet power and wealth（貪圖財富權力）。
dilute：動詞，沖淡，減緩，減輕。例句：The government is hoping these measures will dilute public fears about food safety.（政府希望這些措施將減緩民眾對食品安全的恐慌。）
fume：動詞，發怒，生悶氣，埋怨。例句：Joan is still fuming at the joke George made about her.（喬安還在氣喬治拿她開的玩笑。）
