近兩年，韓國人開始流行吃橡果保健，人們擔心韓國松鼠可能無法存儲足夠的橡果來度過冬天。專家宣稱橡果是一種有助於預防肥胖和糖尿病的超級食物，越來越多的人們採摘橡果，商家也開始研發橡果類產品，如果這一勢頭持續下去，韓國大部分橡果將在50年後消失。
The Russian red tree squirrel in Momole Pet Paradise. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The booming popularity of acorn-based products is putting the squirrel population in South Korea at risk as human foragers steal the rodent's staple diet.
以橡果為原料的產品越來越受歡迎，這使得韓國的松鼠陷入危機，因為人類覓食者要把它們的食物都偷走。
forager['frd]：n.搜尋（食物）的人；四處尋找的人
In the Republic of Korea, where human foraging is said to be at an all-time high, there are fewer acorns on the ground and as a result fewer squirrels.
在韓國，人們對橡果的搜尋熱情空前高漲，地上的橡果越來越少，因此松鼠也越來越少。
Coming in to save the day for the hungry squirrels are 'Acorn Rangers'.
來拯救飢餓松鼠的是「橡果保護隊」。
The team of dedicated animal saviours are policing university campuses and public parks across the Asian nation and scaring off acorn-foraging humans.
這支動物救助隊伍正在韓國的大學校園和公園裡執行警戒任務，驅趕撿拾橡果的人們。
The volunteers have no legal authority to punish those they find, but hope to at least deter human foragers from returning.
志願者們沒有法律權力來懲罰他們發現的橡果撿拾人群，但他們希望至少能阻止一些人再回來。
They spend an hour each week, warning humans away and hiding acorns under tree leaves in an effort to help out the hungry rodents.
他們每周花一個小時，驅趕人們，並把橡果藏在樹葉下，努力幫助飢餓的松鼠。
In South Korea food which is made from acorns, including noodles, jelly and powder, has grown in popularity after it was declared a healthy superfood that had the potential to fight obesity and diabetes.
有人宣稱橡果是對抗肥胖和糖尿病的超級食物之後，橡果製成的麵條、果凍和橡果粉等食品在韓國越來越受歡迎。
As a result foraging for these ingredients has becoming increasingly common at green campuses, popular hiking trails and anywhere where the oak tree is a common feature of the landscape.
因此，在綠色校園、熱門徒步旅行路線和任何遍布橡樹之地，越來越多的人開始撿拾橡果。
It is not however, legal.
然而，這是不合法的。
But this does not appear to be a deterrent for the acorn-hungry humans.
但這似乎並沒有嚇退渴望得到橡果的人們。
deterrent [dternt]：n.威懾；妨礙物；挽留的事物
A red squirrel sits among colorful autumn leaves. [Photo/IC]
The Korea Forest Service told The Wall Street Journal that in the last five years the number of those illegally gathering 'forest products' has gone up five-fold.
韓國林業局對《華爾街日報》說，過去五年，非法採集這類「森林產品」的人數是原來的五倍。
Those who are caught face up to five years in prison - or a fine of $40,000.
被抓的現行人將面臨最高5年的監禁，或4萬美元（約合人民幣28萬元）的罰款。
'With acorns being advertised as a superfood, people won't stop,' said Kim Soo-ji, a worker at the South Korean government's forest environment conservation division.
韓國政府森林環境保護部門的工作人員金宋吉（音）說：「隨著橡果被宣傳為超級食品，人們是不會止步的。」
It is a fad that is also spreading into Western Europe and the United States with a number of acorn-derived food, drink and skin products hitting their shelves.
這一時尚也正在西歐和美國蔓延，有許多含有橡果成分的食品、飲料和護膚產品問世。
But it is a fad that is putting squirrels and other animals who rely on the nut, and the oak trees they come from, for sustenance.
但是，這一時尚也使得松鼠和其他依靠堅果和橡樹生存的動物失去了食物來源。
A researcher at the National Institute of Forest Science Park Chan-ryul said squirrels needed more than 100 acorns in order to survive the cold wintry season.
韓國國家森林科學研究所的研究員樸燦錄（音）說，松鼠需要超過100顆橡果才能度過寒冷的冬季。
But if humans continue to forage for their main source of food there will be no more acorns fifty years from now in South Korea.
但是，如果人類繼續撿拾橡果，50年後，韓國將不會再有橡果。
'We should sympathise with the squirrels' hardship,' he told the WSJ.
他對《華爾街日報》說：「我們應該同情松鼠的苦難。」
英文來源：每日郵報
翻譯&編輯：yaning
來源：中國日報網