What to Do When There's a Polar Bear in Your Backyard | Alysa McCall | TED

翻译人员: Chen Xuan 校对人员: Yip Yan Yeung

When you think of a polar bear,

当你想到北极熊，

you might think white, cold, cute, fuzzy, huggable.

你也许会想到白色、寒冷、可爱、 毛茸茸、想要抱一抱。

Or maybe you feel a bit sad,

或者你会感到一丝难过，

imagining a polar bear floating away on a melting ice floe.

想象到一只在一块正在融化的浮冰上 逐渐漂远的的北极熊。

Either way, there's a good chance that for you,

不论哪个情况，对你来说大概率，

polar bears are a distant reality.

北极熊是一个遥远的存在。

But think of those living and working in the Arctic.

但是想到那些在北极 居住、工作的人们，

For them, melting ice doesn't mean polar bears floating away.

对他们来说，融化的冰 并不意味着北极熊在漂远，

It means the bears getting stuck on land and more desperate for food.

而是意味着北极熊被困在了陆地上， 并且更加渴求食物。

For them, polar bears can be a daily reality.

对他们来说，北极熊是日常存在。

And whether this reality feels safe or scary

不管这一存在让人感到安全还是害怕，

depends on how well prepared people are

取决于人们是否对于与世界上这最大的 四足捕食者共存做好了打算。

to coexist with the world's largest four-legged predator.

After working and living off and on with polar bears for over 12 years,

在我与北极熊工作 和相处超过 12 年后，

I know coexisting with them can be a challenge,

我得知与它们共存是一个挑战，

and it will only get more challenging

还会变得更具挑战性，

as climate change forces our species to increasingly overlap

因为气候变化迫使物种 在即将到来的几十年里更加重合。

in the coming decades.

With my organization, Polar Bears International,

在我的组织——北极熊国际组织，

I'm focused on conserving wild polar bears

我专注于保护野生北极熊，

while respecting and assisting those

同时尊重和帮助那些

who share their coastlines with this carnivore.

与这一食肉动物共享海岸线的动物。

To understand how to best coexist with polar bears,

为了明白如何与北极熊最好地共存，

we first need to understand them.

我们首先需要理解它们。

And I think one of the best places to start

我认为最好的出发点 是我经常被问到的一个问题，

is with one of the most common questions I get asked,

which is, "How are they actually doing?"

“他们的实际状况如何？”

It's a great question.

这是个好问题。

It's simple, but the answer has some nuance

很简单，但答案有细微差别，

and can depend on where we're looking in time and space.

并且取决于我们在什么时间和地点去看待。

If we could pause time

如果我们能暂停时间，

and stop all the impacts we're having on the planet,

停止一切正在对地球造成的影响，

then sure, right now the species would be okay.

那这个物种现在就还行。

We still have about 25,000 polar bears spread across the Arctic,

目前在北极地区仍分布 约有 25,000 头的北极熊，

split into 19 different populations in Canada, Russia, Norway,

它们分成 19 个不同的种群， 分布在加拿大、俄罗斯、挪威、

Greenland and Alaska.

格陵兰以及阿拉斯加州。

But obviously, we can't pause time.

但显然我们不能暂停时间。

The world is warming

地球在变暖，

and the Arctic is warming faster than anywhere.

北极比其他地方变暖得更快。

If we did nothing to change our current path,

如果我们不做点什么来改变当下的状况，

we could lose most of the world's polar bears

在本世纪末，可能由于栖息地的丧失， 我们会失去世界上大部分的北极熊。

by the end of the century due to habitat loss.

Populations are experiencing changes at different rates

北极熊种群正在 以不同的速率发生变化，

depending on where they are,

这取决于它们所处位置，

but ultimately all will be impacted

但最终全都将被影响， 除非我们集体转向更清洁的能源。

unless we collectively switch to cleaner energies.

So we're racing time to tackle climate change in the long term

所以长期看来，我们正在与时间赛跑， 以应对气候变化，

and in the short term,

并且在短期内，

trying to keep as many polar bears in the wild as possible.

尽可能维持更多数量的野生北极熊。

But in the short term,

但在短期看来，

one of the biggest hurdles these charismatic megafauna face is us.

这些富有魅力的巨型动物 面对的最大的障碍是我们。

Polar bears use the frozen ocean for traveling,

北极熊利用结冰的海洋移动、

mating and hunting their main prey: seals.

交配以及捕食主要猎物——海豹。

Specifically, high-calorie seal blubber.

尤其是高热量的海豹脂肪。

Polar bears can't outswim seals,

北极熊游不过海豹，

so they use the sea ice to sneak up on unsuspecting prey.

于是它们用海冰偷袭毫无防备的猎物。

Polar bears need sea ice for sustenance and survival, period.

可以这么说， 北极熊需要海冰来维持生计。

So what happens when ice bears start losing their ice?

那么当海冰开始减少的时候会发生什么？

They get stuck on land and they get hungry.

它们被困在陆地上动弹不得，遭受饥饿。

Polar bears want and need blubber, but they're still bears,

北极熊想要且需要脂肪， 但它们终究是熊，

so they will follow their noses to fill their tummies,

所以它们会依靠嗅觉来填饱肚子，

whatever that takes.

不管代价几何。

But it takes a lot.

但是它需要摄入很多。

Just one polar bear needs a lot of seals,

仅仅一只北极熊就需要很多海豹，

and just one seal is equal to about 74 snow geese

一只海豹等同于约 74 只雪雁，

or 216 snow goose eggs --

或者 216 个雪雁蛋，

it's a big omelet --

这是个巨大的煎蛋。

or three million crowberries.

或者三百万颗红梅。

This amount of food doesn't exist on the tundra

苔原上的食物数量

不足以维持

in quantities great enough to sustain a population

of blubber-hunting ice bears.

大量捕食脂肪的北极熊种群。

So when polar bears can't find good food to eat,

因此，当北极熊找不到 好的食物吃的时候，

just like people, they'll fill up on junk food.

好比人类，它们会用垃圾食品填饱肚子。

And for polar bears, junk food is human food.

人类的食物就是北极熊的垃圾食品。

And for a hungry bear,

对于一只饥饿的北极熊来说，

the best late-night fast food takeout

最好的深夜快餐外卖

can be their northern neighborhood's trash.

可以是它们的北方邻居的垃圾。

But we have a saying in conservation:

但动物保护中有这样一个说法，

a fed bear is a dead bear,

被喂饱的熊是死熊，

and this has major implications for coexistence.

这对共存有着重要暗指。

Many people work and live across the north,

很多人在北边工作生活，

and some Indigenous cultures have centuries-old,

一些本土文化有着百年历史

deep knowledge of polar bears.

以及对北极熊的深入了解。

But as the world is warming and bears are spending more time on land,

但是随着世界变暖， 北极熊在陆地上度过的时间更多，

more people are moving north

更多人搬向北边，

and also spending more time on the land

并且也花费更多时间在陆地上，

and bringing with them more food and more garbage.

把更多的食物和垃圾带给北极熊们。

And they might not be so bear aware.

他们也许并不那么留意北极熊。

This is a rising safety concern for humans

这对人类来说 是一个日益严重的安全问题，

who are always the number-one priority.

生命安全总是第一要务。

It's also a concern for the bears

对北极熊来说这也是一个担忧，

because when a polar bear has a negative encounter with a human,

因为当一只北极熊和人类负面冲突时，

it risks being taken out of the population in a defense kill,

它有在人类防御过程中被杀， 从而消失于种群中的风险，

which is the legal killing of an animal to defend life or property.

而这是捍卫生命财产安全的合法杀戮。

Now here, I should also mention that in parts of the range,

我还应该提到在部分范围内，

polar bears are harvested under a quota system

北极熊在限额规则下被捕杀，

informed by science and Indigenous knowledge.

该规则基于科学和本土知识的指导。

If I don't mention it, people can think I'm hiding it,

如果我不提及， 人们会觉得我藏着掖着，

and when I do, they can be surprised that I'm not opposed.

而当我提出这一点时， 他们会对我不反对感到惊讶。

It is incredibly important

这是极其重要的，

that we protect the rights of Indigenous peoples

我们保护本土居民的权利，

to practice their traditions.

以此来践行他们的传统。

And right now that practice is not a significant threat to the species.

现在这种做法对该物种 不会构成重大威胁。

Where we could see population-level impacts

如果我们观察种群层面的影响，

is through climate change,

由气候变化

or if defense kills, which count toward quotas,

或者由限额约束的防御击杀 造成的影响，

defense kills start rising above the relatively low quotas.

防御击杀的情况 开始超过原本较低的数量了。

That's when I worry.

这就是我该担心的时候。

But people can't worry about conservation

但当人们生命处于危险之中时 不可能关心保护北极熊。

when their lives are at risk.

So we need to help limit negative polar bear encounters

因为我们需要限制与北极熊的负面冲突，

and support people in protecting themselves

并且鼓励居民携带 最好用的工具保护他们自己。

with whatever tools work best for them.

And to help with that, we can provide tools that are non-lethal.

为了帮助解决这个问题，我们 可以提供非致命工具。

Luckily, non-lethal tools are available and more are being developed,

幸运的是，非致命工具是可以获取的， 也正在开发更多的工具，

particularly in Canada,

尤其是在加拿大，

which is home to two thirds of the world's polar bears.

那里是世界上三分之二的北极熊的家。

And one of the best testing grounds for tools

最好的工具测试场地之一是

is in the self-proclaimed polar bear capital of the world,

自称是世界北极熊之都的

Churchill, Manitoba.

（加拿大）曼尼托巴省丘吉尔。

Churchill is home to the western Hudson Bay population,

丘吉尔是西部哈德逊湾族群

some of the best-studied and most-southern polar bears in the world.

以及世界上一些被研究得最深入、 最南边的北极熊的家乡。

In this region,

在这个区域内，

the ice-free season is lengthening,

无冰季节正在延长，

meaning these bears are on land longer

这代表着这些北极熊 在陆地上呆的时间更长，

and have less access to calories compared to their grandparents.

并且与它们祖辈相比， 更难获取卡路里。

This does not mean all the bears are starving to death.

这并不意味着所有北极熊都将饿死。

It means the females are having a harder time having cubs,

这意味着雌性更难生育幼崽，

the cubs are having a harder time becoming adults

幼崽长大成年也越来越难，

and some bears have just moved elsewhere in search of better conditions.

一些北极熊搬去别处， 为了寻找更好的环境。

As a result, this population has declined from about 1,200 bears in the 1980s,

因此，（北极熊）数量 从 1980 年的 1200 只左右

to just over 600 today, almost 50 percent.

减少到目前仅仅 600 多只，基本减半。

Churchill is also home to about 900 people,

丘吉尔也是大概 900 人的故乡，

but grows by thousands during tourist season.

但是在旅游季节会剧增到上千人。

And visitors do sometimes ask me,

游客有时会问我，

"Do polar bears really come into town or is this some tourism ploy?"

“北极熊是真的进城了 还是只是忽悠你去旅游？”

Oh yeah, they come into town.

哦是的，它们真的进城了。

So this is from last fall,

这就是去年秋天的事，

which is in bear season, October, November in Churchill,

当时在“熊出没季节”， 即丘吉尔的十月和十一月，

and the local woman had gone out through a living room about 4 am

当地一位女士凌晨 4 点走出客厅时，

and watched this through her window.

透过她的窗户看到的景象。

And no doubt she called the Polar Bear Alert hotline right after,

她当然立马拨打了北极熊警报热线，

which is a real thing.

这是真实事件。

But you can tell how big they are,

你可以看出它们有多大、

curious and pretty rude.

好奇、粗鲁。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

So polar bears are an economic keystone in Churchill,

所以北极熊在丘吉尔 成了经济基石的一部分，

driving tourism and creating jobs.

推动旅游业和创造就业机会。

It's important Churchill protects them and their people,

重要的是丘吉尔保护它们以及当地人民，

which they do through a wide variety of efforts.

他们通过多种途径来做这件事。

But one of the most interesting and effective is their waste management.

但是最有趣及有效的 是他们的废弃物管理。

Unsurprisingly, Churchill's garbage dump used to be outdoors,

曾经丘吉尔的垃圾场设在户外， 这并不令人意外，

which was fine until it became a popular polar bear buffet.

在它成为北极熊自助餐之前这是可行的。

So this is a problem for the bear's health,

但这对于北极熊的健康是一个问题，

but also because when they're on their way to the snack bar,

也因为它们正在去吃自助餐的路上，

they risk bumping into people.

存在它们撞向人们的风险。

Polar bears are no more likely to actively hunt

北极熊没有黑熊那么

and kill people than black bears,

主动地狩猎以及杀戮人类，

But they are more likely to attack near towns,

但是它们更可能攻击邻近的城镇，

especially when food is nearby.

尤其是附近有食物的时候。

So Churchill did the smart thing,

于是丘吉尔做了一件聪明事，

and they've just moved their garbage dump indoors.

他们只是把垃圾场搬进了室内。

Now the bears can't even get to it.

这样北极熊就无法接近它了。

They also installed residential bear resistant bins,

他们还安装了住宅防熊箱，

so no polar bear with late night munchies in this town gets any rotten food rewards.

所以这个镇上没有北极熊 能在深夜得到任何腐烂的食物奖励。

Churchill continues to evolve their waste management

丘吉尔一直改良着 他们的废弃物管理方式，

because it's key in coexistence.

因为这是共存的关键。

But not everywhere can do what Churchill's done.

但是并不是每个地方 都能做到像丘吉尔这样。

So we need more options.

所以我们需要更多的选择。

Polar Bears International is working on innovative technologies

北极熊国际组织致力于研究创新技术，

that could help provide longer lead times

能够帮助延长北极熊

between when polar bears and people meet

和人类相遇的间隔时间，

or prevent them from meeting altogether.

或避免双方相遇。

Just one example, GPS tracking.

例如，GPS追踪。

It can tell us where, when and why polar bears move.

它可以告诉我们北极熊会 在何时、何地、为什么会移动。

It's critical data,

这是十分重要的数据，

but we've only successfully collared adult females.

但是我们只成功地 为成年雌性北极熊戴上了项圈。

Adult males have these like pylon heads with necks thicker than their skulls,

成年雄性有这些塔状的头， 脖子比头骨粗，

and they just pull collars right off.

所以会拉掉项圈。

And then the subadults are still growing.

然后未成年仍在不断生长。

And this is really too bad

这比较糟糕，

because the subadults, or the teenagers, often cause the most trouble,

因为往往是这些未成年或青少年 （北极熊），造成最多的麻烦，

big surprise.

没想到吧。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

So we've started working with 3M,

所以我们开始与3M公司合作，

the sticky stuff company that makes Post-it notes,

一家制作便利贴的粘性材料公司，

and they're helping us figure out how to stick a tracker to any bear's fur.

他们正在帮助我们解决如何将追踪器 贴在任何熊的皮毛上。

These "burr on fur" tags could be a conservation game changer,

这些“毛皮上的芒刺”标签 可能成为动物保护的变革者，

letting us temporarily tag any bear that comes too close to a community.

让我们暂时为任何 离社区太近的北极熊打上标记。

And upon relocation, we can track that bear

在搬迁后，我们可以跟踪那只北极熊

and intercept it before it gets too close.

并在它离得太近之前拦截它。

This could help reduce dumpster diving and reduce negative human-bear encounters,

这可能有助于减少挖垃圾箱的行为， 减少人与熊的负面相遇，

keeping both species safer.

使两个物种都更安全。

We also hope the tags could be used on other species

我们还希望这些标签可以用于其他物种，

that maybe need some support staying away from us humans.

其他可能需要通过这些辅助措施 远离人类的物种。

So there's different coexistence tools being worked on

因此，北方各地正在为不同的需求

for different needs across the north,

开发不同的共存工具，

but we can't talk about conservation

但我们不得不提到所有保护方式中

without mentioning one of the most important tools of all -- education.

最重要的方式之一：教育。

If you are going into bear country,

如果您要进入有熊的国家，

polar or otherwise, please get bear aware.

北极或其他地区，请时刻注意熊出没。

Stay together, secure your snacks

一起行动，保管好食物，

and carry a deterrent like flares or bangers or bear spray.

并携带照明弹、爆炸弹 或防熊喷雾等威慑装置。

Bear spray works even in the cold and the wind.

即使在寒冷和大风中， 防熊喷雾仍然有效。

But finally, the number one most important coexistence tool we have

最后，我们拥有的最重要的共存工具

is our willingness to cut carbon emissions

是我们愿意减少碳排放，

and stop trapping so much heat in our atmosphere.

停止让大气充斥着如此多的热量。

But on that note, I have some optimism.

在这一点上，我仍相对乐观。

Sea ice.

海冰，

It's very responsive to atmospheric temperatures.

它对大气温度非常敏感。

We can keep this habitat in the Arctic,

我们可以将北极熊的栖息地 维持在北极，

but it will mean drastically reducing our emissions

但这将意味着大幅减少我们的排放

and eventually getting them to zero.

并最终达到零排放。

Polar bears are fat, white, hairy canaries in the coal mine,

北极熊是煤矿里肥胖、洁白、 毛茸茸的金丝雀，

warning us to act now.

警告我们立即采取行动。

The faster we switch to cleaner energies,

我们越快转向清洁能源，

the better we can protect future generations of polar bears and people.

我们就越能更好地 保护未来的北极熊和人类。

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried,

如果我说我不担心， 那我就是在撒谎，

but action is the best antidote to anxiety.

但行动是焦虑的最好解药。

And I'm working to ensure climate change doesn't separate our species for good.

我正在努力确保气候变化 不会永远分离我们的物种。

But until then, it's bringing us too close together.

但在那之前，它使我们走得太近了。

Coexistence is the only option.

共存是唯一的选择。

Let's make it safe for all.

让我们努力让所有物种都能安全吧。

Thank you.

谢谢

(Applause)

（鼓掌）