作為蘇格蘭凱恩戈姆國傢公園野外放歸項目的一部分，歐亞河貍被放歸自然保護區，這次放歸的河貍包括一對雌雄河貍和一隻河貍幼崽。
For hundreds of years, beavers have been absent from Scottish waters. Their reintroduction a decade ago was controversial, particularly among farmers.
數百年來，蘇格蘭水域中一直沒有河貍。十年前，重新引入河貍引起瞭爭議，特別是激起瞭農民的反對。
The animals, which are described as ecosystem engineers, create wetlands which support other wildlife, including insects and birds. Their dams can slow the flow of water. In some areas, this has led to flooding and the destruction of crops.
河貍被喻為 “生態系統工程師”，它們通過築壩創造出濕地，濕地為其它野生動物提供瞭棲息地，包括昆蟲和鳥類。河貍築起的水壩可以減緩水流的速度。但在一些地區，這導致瞭洪水泛濫、農作物被沖毀。
New legislation makes it illegal to destroy established dams and lodges, and to kill beavers without a licence. Some have been issued. The Scottish Wildlife Trust has urged land managers to show restraint while young kits are dependent on their parents, and to use lethal control only when all other measures to control the damage beavers can cause have failed.
蘇格蘭政府新頒佈的立法規定，破壞河貍築成的水壩和巢穴以及無執照宰殺河貍都是違法行為。政府已授予符合規定標準的人員執照，準許他們處理河貍。蘇格蘭野生動物信托基金會敦促土地管理者在河貍幼崽依賴父母的情況下應有所克制，並且隻有在所有其它河貍管控措施均無效的情況下，才考慮使用致命的捕殺措施。
詞匯表
absent 不存在的
ecosystem 生態系統
wetlands 濕地
dams 水壩，堤壩
lodges （河貍的）巢穴
restraint 克制，控制
kits 幼崽
lethal control 致命的控制措施，此處指 “捕殺”
2. 閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. True or False? Farmers have welcomed the return of beavers.
2. What other animals are helped by beavers?
3. What problems can dams cause?
4. What has been made illegal by new laws?
3. 答案
1. True or False? Farmers have welcomed the return of beavers.
False. The reintroduction of beavers has been controversial with farmers.
2. What other animals are helped by beavers?
The wetlands created by beavers support other wildlife, including insects and birds.
3. What problems can dams cause?
Dams can slow the flow of water which can cause flooding and destroy crops.
4. What has been made illegal by new laws?
Destroying established dams and lodges and killing beavers without a licence has been made illegal by new legislation.
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