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Wildlife workers in Sri Lanka say two elephants were recently found dead after eating plastic waste in an open landfill.
斯里兰卡野生动物工作者称，最近发现两头大象在露天垃圾填埋场吃了塑料垃圾后死亡。
The problem is not new in the country.
这个问题在斯里兰卡并不新鲜。
Conservationists and those who treat wildlife said about 20 elephants have died in the last eight years after eating plastic waste.
环保主义者和那些治疗野生动物的人表示，在过去的八年里，大约有20头大象在食用塑料垃圾后死亡。
The incidents happened at a landfill near a village in the Ampara District, about 210 kilometers east of the capital, Colombo.
这些事件发生在首都科伦坡以东约210公里的安帕拉区一个村庄附近的垃圾填埋场。
Nihal Pushpakumara is a veterinarian, a doctor for animals.
尼哈尔·普什帕库马拉是一名兽医，即动物医生。
He told The Associated Press that examinations of the dead animals showed they had swallowed large amounts of plastic that is not biodegradable.
他告诉美联社，对死去的大象进行检查后发现，它们生前吞下了大量不可生物降解的塑料。
Biodegradable means a material can break down naturally in the environment.
Biodegradable的意思是材料可以在环境中自然分解。
Different kinds of plastics were discovered inside the elephants along with other substances the animals could not digest, Pushpakumara said.
普什帕库马拉说，在大象体内发现了不同种类的塑料以及大象无法消化的其他物质。
Elephants are deeply respected in Sri Lanka.
大象在斯里兰卡深受尊重。
They are also endangered.
它们也濒临灭绝。
Their numbers have dropped from about 14,000 in the 19th century to 6,000 in 2011, the latest government data shows.
最新的政府数据显示，它们的数量从19世纪的约1.4万头下降到2011年的6000头。
Pushpakumara said hungry elephants can end up eating plastics or sharp objects that can damage their digestive systems.
普什帕库马拉说，饥饿的大象可能最终会吃塑料或尖锐的东西，这些东西可能会对它们的消化系统造成损伤。
"The elephants then stop eating and become too weak to keep their heavy frames upright," he added.
他还说：“然后大象就会停止进食，进而变得太虚弱而无法支撑它们沉重的身躯站立”。
Unable to eat or drink, the animals can quickly die.
由于不能进食或喝水，大象可能很快就会死亡。
In 2017, the government announced a plan to recycle waste in dumps near wildlife areas, or zones, to prevent elephants from eating dangerous materials.
2017年，斯里兰卡政府宣布了一项计划，在野生动物区附近的垃圾场回收垃圾，以防止大象食用危险材料。
Officials also promised to build electric fences around the areas to keep the animals away.
官员们还承诺在这些地区周围修建电围栏，以防止大象进入。
But so far, neither plan has been fully carried out.
但到目前为止，这两项计划都没有得到全面实施。
The government estimates there are 54 waste dumps in wildlife zones around the country.
斯里兰卡政府估计，全国的野生动物区有54个垃圾场。
About 300 elephants move around these areas.
大约有300头大象在这些区域活动。
The landfill in Ampara was set up in 2008 with aid from the European Union.
安帕拉的垃圾填埋场是在欧盟的援助下于2008年建立的。
Waste collected from nine nearby villages is being dumped there but is not being recycled.
从附近九个村庄收集的垃圾被倾倒在那里，但没有被回收。
In 2014, an electric fence that protected the area was struck by lightning and was never repaired.
2014年，保护该地区的一道电围栏遭到雷击，从未被修复。
Villagers said they fear the elephants, which moved closer and settled near the waste area.
村民们表示，他们害怕大象，大象会向这片垃圾区域靠近并在附近停留。
Many people use fireworks to chase the animals away when they come into the village.
当大象进入村子时，许多人用烟花来驱赶它们。
Others have built electric fences around their homes.
其他人则在自家房子周围建起了电围栏。
But some of the local people do not know how to safely complete the fences.
但一些当地人不知道如何安全地完成围栏。
A village councilor in the area told the AP that people setting up electric barriers "could endanger their own lives as well as those of the elephants."
该地区的一名村委会委员告诉美联社，建电围栏的人“可能会危及自己和大象的生命”。
The official added, "Even though we call them a menace, wild elephants are also a resource."
这位官员还说，“尽管我们称野生大象是一种威胁，但它们也是一种资源。”
He called on local officials to find ways to protect both humans and the elephants, and to permit agriculture to continue.
他呼吁当地官员想方设法保护人类和大象，并允许农业继续发展。
I'm Bryan Lynn.
布莱恩·林恩为您播报。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
