西非森林與迷你河馬的保育危機：全球需加速行動

泰國Khao Kheow開放式動物園近日迎來一位新晉明星——一隻名叫Moo Deng的迷你河馬。這隻僅兩個月大的動物以其圓潤的身形和愛嬉水的習性，在社交媒體和遊客中迅速走紅。每天都吸引大量人群前來一睹她的可愛模樣。然而，Moo Deng的背後隱藏著一個令人痛心的保育故事，牽動著全球保育人士的關注。

Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo recently welcomed a new star - a mini hippopotamus named Moo Deng. The two-month-old animal quickly became popular on social media and among tourists for its rounded figure and love of splashing in the water. It attracts a large number of people every day to catch a glimpse of her cute appearance. However, there is a heartbreaking conservation story hidden behind Moo Deng, which has attracted the attention of conservationists around the world.

迷你河馬的瀕危現狀

迷你河馬，學名為 Choeropsis liberiensis ，是西非特有的物種，現已被國際自然保護聯盟（IUCN）列為瀕危物種。據估計，野外迷你河馬的數量已不足2,500隻，並且仍在快速下降。研究數據顯示，1982年在科特迪瓦的國家公園內，迷你河馬的數量曾達到12,000隻，但到2011年僅剩約2,000隻。如今，在西非的茂密森林中，迷你河馬的蹤跡已變得十分罕見。

The endangered status of the mini hippopotamus

The miniature hippopotamus, scientific name Choeropsis liberiensis, is a species endemic to West Africa and is now listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). There are estimated to be fewer than 2,500 miniature hippos in the wild, and they are still declining rapidly. Research data shows that the number of mini hippos in Côte d'Ivoire's national parks reached 12,000 in 1982, but by 2011 only about 2,000 remained. Today, sightings of miniature hippos have become rare in the dense forests of West Africa.

迷你河馬的習性十分隱秘。牠們通常在夜間覓食，而白天則藏匿於濃密的植被或水中，以避免人類或捕食者的干擾。19世紀的歐洲探險家曾記錄，迷你河馬對環境變化極為敏感。如果牠們的行徑路徑被人類發現或干擾，牠們會暫時放棄該路線，轉而選擇其他方式行動。然而，這樣的隱蔽生活方式並未能保護牠們免受人類活動的影響。由於森林砍伐和土地開發，迷你河馬的棲息地正迅速消失。

Mini hippos are very secretive in their habits. They usually feed at night and hide in dense vegetation or water during the day to avoid disturbance from humans or predators. European explorers in the 19th century documented that miniature hippos are extremely sensitive to environmental changes. If their path is discovered or disturbed by humans, they will temporarily abandon the route and choose other ways to act. However, this sheltered lifestyle does not protect them from human activity. The miniature hippo's habitat is rapidly disappearing due to deforestation and land development.

森林喪失與迷你河馬的困境

迷你河馬的棲息地——西非的熱帶雨林，過去覆蓋了廣袤的區域，但如今已流失了超過80%的原始面積。主要原因包括可可種植的擴張、非法金礦開採以及不可持續的伐木行為。即便是在保護區內，這些人類活動仍然肆無忌憚地進行，進一步威脅著迷你河馬的生存。

例如，在塞拉利昂的Gola國家森林，迷你河馬的活動範圍已被限制在少數地區，部分個體甚至躲藏於保護區外的廢棄農地上。研究人員發現，迷你河馬需要茂密的森林和沼澤地來提供充足的食物和庇護，但現存的棲息地面積已不足以支持牠們的繁衍和生存。

西非森林的全球重要性

西非森林不僅是迷你河馬的家園，也是全球生態系統的重要組成部分。最新的研究顯示，這片森林在生物生產力和碳儲存能力方面甚至超越了亞馬遜雨林。這意味著，保護西非森林不僅對當地物種至關重要，還能在應對全球氣候變化中發揮重要作用。

Forest loss and the plight of miniature hippos

The tropical rainforest of West Africa, the habitat of the miniature hippopotamus, used to cover a vast area, but has now lost more than 80% of its original area. Key causes include the expansion of cocoa cultivation, illegal gold mining and unsustainable logging practices. Even within protected areas, these human activities are still carried out unscrupulously, further threatening the survival of miniature hippos.

For example, in the Gola National Forest in Sierra Leone, the range of mini hippos has been restricted to a few areas, and some individuals are even hiding on abandoned farmland outside the reserve. Researchers found that mini hippos need dense forests and swamps to provide sufficient food and shelter, but the existing habitat area is no longer enough to support their reproduction and survival.

The global importance of West Africa’s forests

West African forests are not only home to miniature hippos but are also an important part of global ecosystems. The latest research shows that this forest even surpasses the Amazon rainforest in terms of biological productivity and carbon storage capacity. This means that protecting West African forests is not only crucial for local species but also plays an important role in combating global climate change.

此外，這片森林也是其他多樣化物種的家園，包括超過900種鳥類和近400種哺乳動物。然而，由於長期以來西非森林的價值未被充分認識，國際社會對其保護和修復的投入遠遠不足。2022年，加納一國的森林損失達到44,500英畝，比2021年增加近70%。

保育專家呼籲，全球應在「30×30」倡議下，平等對待所有生物多樣性熱點，而非僅集中於特定地區。西非森林的保護應成為全球森林修復計劃的重要部分，並採取更全面的措施來遏制當地的森林砍伐。

Khao Kheow的保育使命

作為Moo Deng的家園，Khao Kheow開放式動物園不僅是一個展示迷你河馬的場所，更是一個宣導保育意識的重要平台。動物園致力於通過教育和研究，提升公眾對瀕危物種及其棲息地保護的認識。Moo Deng的故事提醒我們，瀕危物種的保護需要全球的努力與支持。

In addition, the forest is home to other diverse species, including more than 900 species of birds and nearly 400 species of mammals. However, because the value of West African forests has long been under-recognized, the international community has invested far less in their protection and restoration. In 2022, forest loss in Ghana reached 44,500 acres, an increase of nearly 70% from 2021.

Conservation experts call on the world to treat all biodiversity hotspots equally under the "30×30" initiative, rather than just focusing on specific areas. The protection of West African forests should become an important part of global forest restoration plans, along with more comprehensive measures to curb local deforestation.

Khao Kheow動物園發言人表示：「Moo Deng的可愛形象讓人們了解迷你河馬的存在，但我們希望公眾能進一步認識到牠們在野外面臨的生存挑戰。我們希望通過Moo Deng的故事，呼籲更多人參與到迷你河馬及其他瀕危物種的保育行動中。」

Khao Kheow’s conservation mission

As the home of Moo Deng, Khao Kheow Open Zoo is not only a place to display mini hippos, but also an important platform to promote conservation awareness. The Zoo is committed to increasing public awareness of endangered species and the conservation of their habitats through education and research. Moo Deng’s story reminds us that the protection of endangered species requires global efforts and support.

A spokesman for Khao Kheow Zoo said: "Moo Deng's cute image has made people aware of the existence of mini hippos, but we hope the public will be more aware of the survival challenges they face in the wild. We hope that through Moo Deng's story, we can call on more people to participate in the conservation of mini hippos and other endangered species."

展望未來

Looking to the future

Moo Deng的故事是一個保育危機的縮影。透過結合國際支持、社區參與和科學研究，我們可以為迷你河馬及其棲息地創造一個更光明的未來。

Moo Deng’s story is a microcosm of the conservation crisis. By combining international support, community engagement and scientific research, we can create a brighter future for miniature hippos and their habitats.