The coolest animal you know nothing about ... and how we can save it | Patrícia Medici

翻译人员: Jingyao Xue 校对人员: TIANYU WANG

This is one of the most amazing animals on the face of the Earth.

这是地球表面最令人 惊奇的动物之一。

This is a tapir.

这是貘。

Now this, this is a baby tapir,

那么这个呢，它就是貘宝宝啦，

the cutest animal offspring in the animal kingdom.

它是动物王国中， 最可爱的幼崽了，

(Laughter)

（笑声）

By far.

到目前为止。

There is no competition here.

没有之一。

I have dedicated the past 20 years of my life

我把我过去20年 的生活奉献给

to the research and conservation of tapirs in Brazil,

研究和保护巴西的貘，

and it has been absolutely amazing.

而且这份工作绝对已经令人惊叹了。

But at the moment, I've been thinking really, really hard

但此刻，我一直在努力地想

about the impact of my work.

有关我的工作带来的深刻影响。

I've been questioning myself about the real contributions I have made

我一直在问自己， 那些我已经做了的，

for the conservation of these animals I love so much.

关于为保护这些我 热爱动物的贡献。

Am I being effective

我是不是有效地

in safeguarding their survival?

在保护它们的生存呢？

Am I doing enough?

我做得足够吗？

I guess the big question here is,

我想，这里 最大的问题是

am I studying tapirs and contributing to their conservation,

我是否在研究貘并 致力于保护它们呢？

or am I just documenting their extinction?

还是我只是正在记录 它们的灭绝过程呢？

The world is facing so many different conservation crises.

世界正面临着许多 不同的保护危机。

We all know that. It's all over the news every day.

这些我们都知道， 每天全世界的新闻都在报道。

Tropical forests and other ecosystems are being destroyed,

热带森林和其他 生态系统都正在被破坏，

climate change, so many species on the brink of extinction:

气候变化，导致许多物种 在濒临灭绝的边缘：

tigers, lions, elephants, rhinos, tapirs.

包括老虎，狮子， 大象，犀牛和貘。

This is the lowland tapir, the tapir species I work with,

这是低地貘， 我正在研究这类貘，

the largest terrestrial mammal of South America.

这是南美洲最大的 陆生哺乳动物。

They're massive. They're powerful.

它们很巨大，还很强壮。

Adults can weigh up to 300 kilos.

成年貘可以重达300公斤，

That's half the size of a horse.

那可是一匹马一半的大小。

They're gorgeous.

它们非常漂亮。

Tapirs are mostly found in tropical forests such as the Amazon,

这些貘大都在 热带森林被发现，如亚马逊，

and they absolutely need large patches of habitat

而且，它们绝对需要 大片的栖息地，

in order to find all the resources they need to reproduce and survive.

以供它们找到繁殖和生存的资源所有资源

But their habitat is being destroyed,

但是，它们的栖息地 正遭到破坏，

and they have been hunted out of several parts of their geographic distribution.

而且在貘的一些栖息地，它们纷纷被猎杀。

And you see, this is very, very unfortunate

你看，这实在是非常不幸的事，

because tapirs are extremely important for the habitats where they are found.

因为对于栖息地的生态环境来说， 这些貘是非常重要的。

They're herbivores.

它们是食草动物。

Fifty percent of their diet consists of fruit,

水果占去它们每日摄食的50%

and when they eat the fruit, they swallow the seeds,

它们吃水果时， 也吞下了种子，

which they disperse throughout the habitat through their feces.

它们通过其粪便在栖息地分散 这些种子。

They play this major role in shaping and maintaining

它们在塑造和维护森林结构和多样性时

the structure and diversity of the forest,

发挥了重要作用。

and for that reason, tapirs are known as gardeners of the forest.

正是这个原因，貘被 认为是森林的园丁。

Isn't that amazing?

这是不是很神奇呢？

If you think about it,

如果你思考一下，

the extinction of tapirs would seriously affect

貘的灭绝将严重影响

biodiversity as a whole.

整个森林生态系统的生物多样性。

I started my tapir work in 1996, still very young, fresh out of college,

我开始研究貘在1996， 我当时还很年轻，刚大学毕业，

and it was a pioneer research and conservation program.

而且这是一个开创性的 研究和保护课程。

At that point, we had nearly zero information about tapirs,

在那时，我们几乎没有 任何关于貘的信息，

mostly because they're so difficult to study.

主要是因为它们很难研究。

They're nocturnal, solitary, very elusive animals,

它们是昼伏夜出，喜欢独处， 难以寻觅的动物，

and we got started getting very basic data about these animals.

我们开始只获得有关 这些动物的基本数据。

But what is it that a conservationist does?

但作为一名自然环境 保护者，究竟要做什么呢？

Well, first, we need data.

首先，我们需要数据。

We need field research.

我们需要实地调研。

We need those long-term datasets to support conservation action,

我们需要长期的数据集， 来支援动物的保护行动，

and I told you tapirs are very hard to study,

而且我说过，貘是很难研究的，

so we have to rely on indirect methods to study them.

所以，我们必须依赖 间接的方法来研究它们。

We have to capture and anesthetize them

我们必须捕获， 然后麻醉它们，

so that we can install GPS collars around their necks

这样我们就可以安装 GPS定位项圈在它们的脖子，

and follow their movements,

而且跟踪它们的行动，

which is a technique used by many other conservationists around the world.

这是世界各地很多自然环境 保护者使用的一种方法。

And then we can gather information about how they use space,

然后我们可以收集有关 它们如何使用空间的信息，

how they move through the landscape,

包括它们如何在 园林区走动，

what are their priority habitats,

以及什么地方是它们优先 考虑的栖息地，

and so much more.

还有很多其他信息收集。

Next, we must disseminate what we learn.

接下来，我们必须传播 学到的有于貘的信息。

We have to educate people about tapirs

我们必须对大众 进行关于貘的教育，

and how important these animals are.

并且让人们了解这些 动物是多么重要。

And it's amazing how many people around the world

惊人的是，

do not know what a tapir is.

世上有许多人连貘是什么都不知道。

In fact, many people think this is a tapir.

实际上，很多人 觉得这就是貘。

Let me tell you, this is not a tapir.

让我告诉你，这不是貘。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

This is a giant anteater.

这是一只巨型的食蚁兽。

Tapirs do not eat ants. Never. Ever.

貘从来不吃蚂蚁。

And then next we have to provide training, capacity building.

然后，接下来我们必须 提供培训和能力的培养。

It is our responsibility to prepare the conservationists of the future.

我们的责任就是去为培养 未来的环保者做准备。

We are losing several conservation battles,

我们正在失去 一些环保区域，

and we need more people doing what we do,

我们需要更多的人， 从事我们所做的工作，

and they need the skills, and they need the passion to do that.

而且他们需要有技能和 热情从事这样的工作。

Ultimately, we conservationists,

最终，作为自然环保者，

we must be able to apply our data,

我们必须能够运用 我们的数据，

to apply our accumulated knowledge

和运用我们积累的知识

to support actual conservation action.

来支持实际的保护行动。

Our first tapir program

我们第一个貘的 研究计划

took place in the Atlantic Forest

坐落在大西洋的森林

in the eastern part of Brazil,

在巴西东部，

one of the most threatened biomes in the world.

这是世界上最受威胁 的生物群落区之一。

The destruction of the Atlantic Forest

对大西洋森林的破坏

began in the early 1500s,

开始于16世纪初，

when the Portuguese first arrived in Brazil,

当葡萄牙人 最初抵达巴西，

beginning European colonization in the eastern part of South America.

在南美洲东部开始 进行欧洲殖民化。

This forest was almost completely cleared

这片森林几乎 完全被砍伐殆尽，

for timber, agriculture, cattle ranching and the construction of cities,

为了木材，农业，牧牛场 和城市建设的需要，

and today only seven percent of the Atlantic forest

如今大西洋森林 只有原来7%的面积

is still left standing.

仍然保存。

And tapirs are found in very, very small, isolated, disconnected populations.

而这些貘在很小，隔离的和不联系的 的群落中被发现。

In the Atlantic Forest, we found out that tapirs move through open areas

在大西洋森林，我们发现貘在

of pastureland and agriculture

牧场和农业开放区域间走动

going from one patch of forest to patch of forest.

从森林中一小块地 移动到另一小块地。

So our main approach in this region

因此，我们在这一地区 使用的主要方法

was to use our tapir data to identify the potential places

是用貘的数据来识别 潜在的栖息地，

for the establishment of wildlife corridors

为建立野生动物保护区

in between those patches of forest,

在森林的这些 小块土地之间，

reconnecting the habitat

重新连接它们的栖息地，

so that tapirs and many other animals could cross the landscape safely.

使貘和其他许多动物 能够安全地通过那些开放区。

After 12 years in the Atlantic Forest,

通过12年在大西洋森林 的观察和研究，

in 2008, we expanded our tapir conservation efforts to the Pantanal

终于在2008年， 我们在巴西西部的Pantanal，

in the western part of Brazil

靠近玻利维亚和巴拉圭边境的地方

near the border with Bolivia and Paraguay.

加大了貘的保护区。

This is the largest continuous freshwater floodplain in the world,

这是世界上最大 的淡水洪泛区，

an incredible place

一个不可思议的地方，

and one of the most important strongholds for lowland tapirs in South America.

这里是南美洲低地貘 最重要的生存堡垒之一。

And working in the Pantanal has been extremely refreshing

在Pantanal工作 已经令人耳目一新，

because we found large, healthy tapir populations in the area,

因为在这个地区，我们 发现大量的，健康的貘种群，

and we have been able to study tapirs

我们已经可以在那里研究貘了

in the most natural conditions we'll ever find,

这是我们找到的最原生态的环境

very much free of threats.

在这里貘的生存没有威胁

In the Pantanal, besides the GPS collars, we are using another technique:

在Pantanal, 除了GPS定位项圈， 我们还使用另一种技术：

camera traps.

相机陷阱

This camera is equipped with a movement sensor

这个摄像机装备了 移动传感器，

and it photographs animals when they walk in front of it.

当动物走到相机前时 它会拍照。

So thanks to these amazing devices,

所以，要感谢这么好的技术设备。

we have been able to gather precious information

我们才可以收集 到珍贵的资料，

about tapir reproduction and social organization

这些资料是有关貘的繁殖 和群居的组织，

which are very important pieces of the puzzle

这是了解貘非常 重要的一些资料，

when you're trying to develop those conservation strategies.

当你试图要发展 一些保护措施会用到。

And right now, 2015, we are expanding our work once again

而现在，在2015年，我们 再次扩大工作范围

to the Brazilian Cerrado,

在巴西Cerrado,

the open grasslands and shrub forests in the central part of Brazil.

这里位于巴西中部，拥有开阔的草场和 灌木林

Today this region is the very epicenter of economic development in my country,

今天，这一地区是我们 国家的经济发展中心。

where natural habitat and wildlife populations

这里是自然栖息地， 同时许多野生动物种群

are rapidly being eradicated by several different threats,

正受不同因素威胁， 濒临灭绝，

including once again cattle ranching,

其中又一次包括牛牧场经营，

large sugarcane and soybean plantations,

大型甘蔗和大豆种植园，

poaching, roadkill, just to name a few.

偷猎和路杀动物， 我在这里仅举几例。

And somehow, tapirs are still there,

不知为什么， 貘仍然存在，

which gives me a lot of hope.

这给了我很大希望。

But I have to say that starting this new program in the Cerrado

但是我不得不说，在 Cerrado开始的这个新计划

was a bit of a slap in the face.

是在自己脸上打了一耳光。

When you drive around

当你开车转转

and you find dead tapirs along the highways

你会发现公路旁被撞死的貘。

and signs of tapirs wandering around in the middle of sugarcane plantations

也会找到貘在甘蔗种植园里 游荡的踪迹，

where they shouldn't be,

但它们不应该在那里，

and you talk to kids and they tell you that they know how tapir meat tastes

如果你与这里的小孩谈话， 他们会告诉你貘肉的味道如何，

because their families poach and eat them,

因为他们的家人 偷捕并吃这些动物，

it really breaks your heart.

这事真的让人伤心。

The situation in the Cerrado made me realize --

在Cerrado 的这种情况 使我意识到该做的事，

it gave me the sense of urgency.

这种情况给了我紧迫感。

I am swimming against the tide.

我正在拼搏，逆流而上。

It made me realize that despite two decades of hard work

这使我认识到， 尽管二十年的艰苦努力

trying to save these animals, we still have so much work to do

我们试图拯救这些动物， 但还有许多工作要做，

if we are to prevent them from disappearing.

如果我们要阻止 貘的消失。

We have to find ways to solve all these problems.

我们必须找出方法 解决所有这些问题。

We really do, and you know what?

我们真的需要， 你知道吗？

We really came to a point in the conservation world

在保护世界里， 我们真的到了这个时刻，

where we have to think out of the box.

一个我们必须要开放思想， 打破固有的模式的时刻。

We'll have to be a lot more creative than we are right now.

我们必须要比现在更有创造力

And I told you, roadkill is a big problem for tapirs in the Cerrado,

而且我要告诉你们，路上被撞死的 貘在Cerrado是个大问题，

so we just came up with the idea of putting reflective stickers

我们想出了一个 方法，放反光贴纸

on the GPS collars we put on the tapirs.

在貘脖子的 GPS 定位项圈上。

These are the same stickers used on big trucks

这些反光贴纸同样 贴在大卡车上

to avoid collision.

以避免碰撞。

Tapirs cross the highways after dark,

天黑后，貘穿过公路，

so the stickers will hopefully help drivers see this shining thing

那么但愿反光贴纸会帮助 司机，看到这个闪亮的东西

crossing the highway,

正在横穿公路。

and maybe they will slow down a little bit.

也许他们会开慢一点。

For now, this is just a crazy idea.

目前而言， 这只是个疯狂的想法。

We don't know. We'll see if it will reduce the amount of tapir roadkill.

我们不知道，这方法是否 会减少貘被撞死的数量。

But the point is, maybe this is the kind of stuff that needs to be done.

但关键点是， 也许这类事情是我们需要做的。

And although I'm struggling with all these questions

虽然我正在抗争， 对这些

in my mind right now,

在我脑海里的问题，

I have a pact with tapirs.

我与貘有个约定。

I know in my heart

在我心里，我知道

that tapir conservation is my cause.

保护貘是我做这一切的理由。

This is my passion.

这是我的热情。

I am not alone.

我并不孤单。

I have this huge network of supporters behind me,

在我背后有一个 巨大的支持网，

and there is no way I'm ever going to stop.

我也没有办法停下来。

I will continue doing this, most probably for the rest of my life.

我会在我的余生继续从事貘的研究，

And I'll keep doing this for Patrícia, my namesake,

我会为了一只以我命名的貘继续努力，

one of the first tapirs we captured and monitored in the Atlantic Forest

它是在大西洋森林 被我们发现和跟踪的头几只，

many, many years ago;

这是在很多年前的事了；

for Rita and her baby Vincent in the Pantanal.

Rita和她的孩子Vincent 在Pantanal。

And I'll keep doing this for Ted, a baby tapir we captured

我会继续为Ted做貘的研究工作， 这是一只我们捕获的貘宝宝

in December last year also in the Pantanal.

在Pantanal，去年12月。

And I will keep doing this

我会继续做这项工作

for the hundreds of tapirs that I've had the pleasure to meet

为了数以百计的貘， 那些我这些年有幸

over the years

遇到的貘。

and the many others I know I will encounter in the future.

还包括许多其他的貘， 那些我将来会遇到的貘。

These animals deserve to be cared for.

这些动物应该受到关心。

They need me. They need us.

它们需要我们， 需要我们去保护它们。

And you know? We human beings deserve to live in a world

而且你们知道吗？人类应该生活 在一个这样的世界里，

where we can get out there and see and benefit from

一个我们可以走去看看， 并从中获益的世界。

not only tapirs

一个不仅有貘，

but all the other beautiful species,

还有其他美丽物种的世界，

now and in the future.

从现在开始，直到将来。

Thank you so much.

谢谢。

(Applause)

（鼓掌）