中新社昆明8月12日电 (记者 缪超)8月12日是世界大象日。云南省林业和草原局近日公布的数据显示，经过多年保护与恢复工作，中国亚洲象种群数量稳定增长，分布范围不断扩大。
据云南省林业和草原局提供的数据，过去30年间，野生亚洲象种群数量由150头左右增长至300多头；分布区由20世纪90年代的2个州(市)、3个县(市、区)、14个乡镇，扩大到2018年的3个州(市)、9个县(市、区)、40个乡镇，2020年又快速向北扩大到3个州(市)、11个县(市、区)、61个乡镇。
亚洲象作为生物多样性的旗舰物种和明星物种，是中国一级保护野生动物，也是《濒危野生动植物种国际贸易公约》(CITES)附录Ⅰ物种。云南省通过实施栖息地保护与恢复，改造修复亚洲象栖息地超1.2万亩，为亚洲象提供适宜稳定的栖息场所。同时，不断提高野生动物公众责任补偿标准，2023年西双版纳州、普洱市和临沧市投保资金达5915万元人民币，占云南省总投入的63.91%。
此外，云南省还建立了西双版纳亚洲象救护与繁育中心，成功救助受困、受伤亚洲象。近期，中国首次在西双版纳将一头被收容救助的野象成功放归自然。经过近3个月监测，野象“阿宝”回归自然后基本适应野外生活，健康状况良好。
值得一提的是，云南省还与老挝北部多省建立了面积近20万公顷的联合保护区域，保障云南亚洲象与老挝、缅甸野生亚洲象群自然交流，避免了种群基因退化问题。
此次亚洲象种群数量的稳定增长和分布范围的扩大，不仅是对云南生物多样性保护工作的肯定，也为全球大象保护事业提供了中国经验。随着保护措施的不断加强和实施，我们有理由相信亚洲象这一珍稀物种将在中国得到更好的保护和繁衍生息。
英语如下：
News Title: “China’s Asian Elephant Population Shows Growth and Expansion”
Keywords: Growth, Expansion, Conservation
News Content:
BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) — China’s Asian elephant population has seen a steady increase and a wider distribution range as a result of years of conservation and restoration efforts, according to data released by the Yunnan Provincial Department of Forestry and Grassland recently.
The wild Asian elephant population, which is listed as a Class I protected animal in China and a CITES Appendix I species, has grown from around 150 to over 300 over the past three decades, according to the department. The range has expanded from two prefectures (cities) and three counties (cities and districts) in the Yunnan province in the 1990s to three prefectures (cities), nine counties (cities and districts), and 40 townships in 2018, and further to three prefectures (cities), 11 counties (cities and districts), and 61 townships in 2020.
As flagship and key species for biodiversity, Asian elephants are critically important for China’s wildlife conservation efforts. Yunnan Province has implemented habitat protection and restoration measures, transforming and repairing over 767 hectares (1.2 million mu) of habitat for the elephants, providing them with suitable and stable living areas. The province has also continuously raised the compensation standards for wildlife public responsibility insurance, with a total investment of 59.15 million yuan (U.S. dollars) in Xishuangbanna, Pu’er, and Lincang cities in 2023, accounting for 63.91% of the total investment in Yunnan.
Furthermore, Yunnan has established the Xishuangbanna Asian Elephant Rescue and Breeding Center, successfully rescuing and nursing back to health trapped or injured elephants. Recently, China successfully reintroduced a wild elephant that had been rescued and cared for into the wild for the first time in Xishuangbanna. After nearly three months of monitoring, the wild elephant named “Abao” has shown a basic adaptation to life in the wild and is in good health.
It is worth noting that Yunnan has also established a joint conservation area of nearly 200,000 hectares with several northern provinces of Laos, ensuring natural exchanges between the Asian elephants of Yunnan and those of Laos and Myanmar, thereby avoiding the degeneration of genetic diversity.
The stable growth in the Asian elephant population and the expansion of their distribution range are not only a testament to the success of Yunnan’s biodiversity conservation efforts but also provide a Chinese experience for the global elephant conservation movement. With the continuous strengthening and implementation of conservation measures, there is every reason to believe that the Asian elephant, a rare species, will receive better protection and continue to thrive in China.
【来源】http://www.chinanews.com/sh/2024/08-12/10267889.shtml
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