Humpback whales (座头鲸) are among the world’s most endangered whales. The main threats humpback whales face are strikes from ships and getting caught in fishing and waste equipment. Recently, scientists have developed a technology-powered mapping tool to prevent ships from hitting whales in areas off America’s west coast. The system is called Whale Safe. It uses equipment placed in the ocean to identify the presence of whales in the surrounding area.

Whale Safe was recently launched to the north in San Francisco Bay. There is a problem in the bay with ships hitting whales. Wildlife officials reported that a humpback whale washed ashore in the San Francisco Bay with injuries suggesting the animal was killed in a ship strike. It was the fifth whale to be killed by a ship strike in the area in 2022. However, the actual number of whales killed by ships is likely much higher because the bodies of the dead animals are rarely discovered.

The system uses three methods to identify and protect several different whale species. First, it uses flotation devices — known as buoys (浮标) — to record sounds the whales make. Second, it uses computer models to process current and historical ocean data to predict where the whales are most likely to be. Third, it permits trained observers and citizens to report whale sightings through a mobile app. The tool also records shipping activity and ship speeds. The collected data is then sent by satellite to scientists who examine it and seek to provide guidance to ship operators.

The Whale Safe project is supported by the Marine Mammal Center and the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory. Officials from the Marine Mammal Center say they have plans to expand the system to other areas where whales face a high risk of being hit by ships. “The system combines the latest technology with thoughtful conservation efforts to create a solution to reduce risk to whales. This is where technology meets Mother Nature for the benefit of marine life,” said Jeff Boehm, a leader of the Marine Mammal Center.

I am drawn to the peace and pure beauty of primitive nature. Being in it heightens my perceptions and narrows my focus. As I concentrate on the surroundings, an inner stillness fills me and helps me capture a sense of place.

This was the case when I packed my camera equipment and adventured into some of Europe’s old-growth forests to highlight these unique environments that have remained complete for centuries, despite frequent threats of human disturbance.

The visits were often challenging because of unfavorable weather conditions and the distances I had to cover while going multiple times to the most photogenic (适于摄影的) locations. But the joy of the experience always won. Hiking off the trail through the foggy laurel forests of Madeira, I was enveloped by trees that may have been up to 800 years old and whose trunks provided me with shelter when clouds released a sudden downpour. It felt like entering a holy (神圣的) space.

Wandering through the intact Scots pine forests of northern Sweden and the mountain tree lines of southern Norway rewarded me with the sense of freedom I always get in the Scandinavian wilderness. The beech trees that stand on the steep slopes of Italy have left me in awe of the power of an uncut forest. I feel honored that I have been allowed to explore and photograph these wonderlands.

Except Russia, only about 2 percent of the forest areas in Europe are primary, or have never been cleared, reflecting an impressive richness of life that once filled vast wooded ecosystems. Most of the areas are now protected, but as the human population continues to grow—with destructive impacts on the planet and its living creatures—the future of these forests is far from certain. I, for one, hope that they will still be standing for many centuries more.

If you think that this is about a ten-year-old boy adopting a blind deer, you are wrong. If you think this is about a deer giving her love for her savior then you’re wrong again. 【小题1】 He helped this deer find grass to eat every morning.

A ten-year-old boy in Chicago, Illinois spotted a blind deer that had wandered into his neighborhood, and he decided to help it find a safe place and give it some food. He made a regular morning habit of doing this before going to school. The roads are a dangerous place for blind animals. 【小题2】

When the Illinois Department of Natural Resources got to know about this, they immediately adopted the deer. They provided her with a proper, legal shelter. 【小题3】 He didn’t try to pet her. Therefore, he felt a sense of relief, knowing that the blind deer was safe.

【小题4】 Usually, when people find things they love, they naturally tend to make them their own and seldom like to share them with others. This example shows that loving something does not mean trying to own it. Caring is not possessing. What we learn from the boy is to live peacefully with our surroundings.

The blind deer and the boy spent very little time as friends. The boy did not let his feelings for her overpower himself. 【小题5】 Being humans is not just about loving and hugging those we love; it is also about sharing our world with them.