【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. alarmingly / əˈlɑr mɪŋli / (adv.) – in a disturbing way
Example: The population of wolves in the region is alarmingly decreasing because of illegal hunting.
2. habitat / ˈhæb ɪˌtæt / (n.) – the natural living environment of plants or animals
Example: Environmental organizations are doing their best to preserve the habitats of eagles in the country.
3. livestock / ˈlaɪvˌstɒk / (n.) – farm animals that are kept or raised for business purposes
Example: The region earns mainly from its livestock.
4. shrinking / ˈʃrɪŋk ɪŋ / (adj.) – describing something that is decreasing in amount, size, or value
Example: The shrinking number of sharks led authorities to implement stricter fishing policies.
5. extinct / ɪkˈstɪŋkt / (adj.) – not existing anymore
Example: Scientists have not yet discovered the reason why dinosaurs became extinct.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
A huge number of people have registered for a license to kill more than half of Norway's existing wolf population.
Nearly 12,000 hunters in Norway became licensed to shoot 16 wolves for the 2015-2016 hunting season. According to Norway's environment agency, the government issued hunting licenses to protect livestock.
Despite this initiative, an expert thinks that it is disturbing that the Norwegian government allowed this number of hunters despite wolves' alarmingly low population in the country. According to expert Petter Wabakken, the wolf population in Norway could be as small as 30 wolves.
Although wolf hunting in Norway is permitted, the country still maintains its wolf population by designating a protected habitat for the animals. However, some of them go out of this protected area, making themselves open for hunting.
Wabakken said that while widespread wolf hunting keeps livestock free from harm, illegal hunting is possibly responsible for the rapidly shrinking population of wolves in the country. The government maintains three female wolves in the protected area for breeding but Wabakken doubts that this will be enough to make sure the wolf population in the Scandinavian country will not go extinct.
Norway's wolf-hunting season started on October 1 last year and will end on March 31 this year. Based on the Norwegian Association for Fishing and Hunting's available data, the current hunting season has more hunters compared to the 2013-2014 season. Last season, there were only less than 10,000 hunters who participated.
Norway is known to have a long-standing hunting tradition. Aside from wolves, the Norwegian brown bear and wolverines are also in demand for hunters during the hunting season.
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【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· Do you agree with Norway’s legal hunting of wolves? Why or why not?
· If you were part of the Norwegian government, how would you deal with the decreasing wolf population while keeping the hunting tradition?
Discussion B
· How are endangered animals protected in your country?
· How else can ordinary citizens care for animals, endangered or not?
