Nearly 100,000 messages from WWF activists over the past four years helped convince the U.S. Congress to steadily increase funding for the protection of great apes. Even now, Congress is poised to approve more than $1 million for great ape conservation for the coming year. 過去四年來，超過10萬封來自 WWF (World Wildlife Fund, 世界野生動物基金會) 行動人士的信件，已促使美國國會逐年增加保育野生大型靈長類的資金贊助。 明年的預算甚至可望超過100萬美金。 However, these funds are woefully insufficient to address the crisis affect- ing one of the most loved great apes -- the gorilla. 然而，對於最受到人們喜愛的大猩猩 (Gorilla gorilla) 來說， 這個金額似乎還是不夠的。 Thousands of lowland gorillas are being slaughtered and the trend is alarming: once hunted only by local people to feed their own families, gorillas are now being gunned down with automatic weapons, murdered simply to be served smoked, or as a steak or stew in "gourmet" restaurants as far away as Paris or Brussels. 數以千計的低地大猩猩正在遭到屠殺； 一度僅止於當地人民為了養活家人而進行的獵殺行為， 現在已被配有現代化武器，大規模企業化的獵補行為所取代， 而這些都只為了滿足那些遠在巴黎或布魯塞爾的老饕貪得無饜的胃口。 Habitat loss, poaching for a growing commercial bushmeat trade, and most recently an outbreak of Ebola that is affecting human and ape populations alike, threaten to decimate Africa's population of lowland gorillas and other great apes. 棲地的破壞，商業盜獵行為，甚至到最近又爆發的伊波拉病毒， 這所有的不利因子綜合起來，加速了這些大型猿類族群的消失。 WWF has launched an emergency response to this crisis. We have created a plan to safeguard gorillas -- stepped up anti-poaching activities, increased support for protected areas, and innovative efforts with multinational logging companies to stem their harmful actions -- WWF 已擬定幾個計畫以保護他們，包括發起反盜獵活動，增加保護區的援助， 阻止跨國伐木公司的入侵 等等。 and we want you there by our side once again. With a donation to WWF, you can make a difference in our life or death efforts to save wildlife and wild spaces. Your contribution supports programs that protect gorillas and other wildlife rescue projects where the need is most urgent. Right now, the odds may seem stacked against the gorilla's survival, but we haven't given up -- and neither should you. WWF 已發起緊急動員令， 希望能夠透過這封信，喚起全世界保育人士的關心； 並且透過捐款，讓所有有心幫助保育非洲大猩猩的人們， 都能夠盡自己的一分心力。 Sincerely, Kathryn S. Fuller President WWF的網址: http://www.panda.org/ -- Think, talk, feel. And life will be different. --

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