导读:北极熊本该在北极自由自在地生活，然而近日，广州一家商场内被关的北极熊引发媒体热议，被称为“世界最悲伤北极熊”。亚洲动物基金会已介入，希望对方进行改进。
More than 285,000 people have signed a petition calling for the closure of an aquarium in southern China that is home to an animal dubbed “the world’s saddest polar bear”.
近日超过285000人签署请愿书，号召关停中国南方一水族馆，该水族馆是一只被称为“世界最悲伤北极熊”的家。
The lethargic bear, whose name is Pizza, is on show at an “ocean theme park” located inside the Grandview shopping centre in the city of Guangzhou.
这只了无生气的北极熊名叫比萨，它被关在广州美视购物中心的“海洋主题公园”展览中。
The aquarium made international headlines after its opening in early January with one Hong Kong-based animal rights charity denouncing it as a “horrifying” animal prison.
今年1月初该水族馆开业后不久即受到一家香港动物权益慈善机构的谴责，称其为“恐怖的”动物监狱，并上了国际新闻头条。
The park’s management initially rejected claims that Pizza was being mistreated. “The polar bear in the aquarium is very happy,” Li Chengtang, its deputy manager, told the Guangzhou Daily newspaper.
该公园管理人员最初拒绝承认比萨受到虐待。“北极熊在水族馆非常开心。”副总经理李先生告诉广州每日新闻。
However, amid outrage over the dismal conditions in which the animals were being forced to live, as tourists posed for selfies beside them, members of the Hong Kong-based charity Animals Asia were invited to visit the aquarium in April.
然而，群众对于动物们被迫住在凄凉环境中的愤慨情绪严重，因为游客经常在动物们旁边自拍。今年4月，总部位于香港的亚洲动物基金会成员受邀参观了该水族馆。
The activist group said the theme park’s management had been “genuinely shocked” by the international outcry and had sought advice on how to improve conditions.
该组织活跃成员称，主题公园管理人员对于国际上的强烈抗议感到“由衷震惊”，并就如何改善状况征求建议。
Animals Asia said there was no indication the aquarium would be closed or its animals, which also include arctic wolves, beluga whales and walrus calves, rehoused.
亚洲动物基金会称，对方没有关闭水族馆或将他们的动物重新安置的迹象，被关的动物除了北极熊还有北极狼、白鲸、海象等。
However, writing last week, Dave Neale, the group’s animal welfare director, said the park’s directors had promised “a better life for its animals” as a result of pressure.
然而，该组织动物福利总监大卫尼尔称，该公园主管迫于压力已承诺“给动物们更好的生活”。
Neale said engagement had previously led to positive changes at a zoo in Hanoi where the charity convinced zoo keepers to unchain elephants, end animal “circuses” and provide better living conditions for bears and tigers.
尼尔说，该组织的介入在早期已产生了积极的影响，基金会说服越南首都河内一家动物园为大象松绑，取消动物“马戏团”并为熊和老虎提供更好的生存条件。
“Threatening frequently changes little – while walking away changes nothing. Staying and talking and working together means there’s an on-going chance for positive change,” Neale argued.
“经常威胁能做出一点改变-撒手不管什么也改变不了。留下来交流并合力解决才有持续的机会做出积极的改变。”尼尔说。
While China’s economic boom is fading, the country’s amusement park industry is booming as an increasingly affluent middle-class seeks new forms of entertainment. According to one campaigning group, China is currently home to at least 39 ocean theme parks. More than a dozen more are scheduled to open over the next two years.
尽管中国经济增长放缓，国内观光游乐业却一片繁荣，因为越来越多富裕的中层人士在寻求新的娱乐方式。据一活动组织称，中国目前至少有39家海洋主题公园，未来两年内至少还有12家计划开园。
Calls for the aquarium’s closure continued this week on Chinese social media. “It is torture! Please boycott it!” read one comment on Weibo, China’s Twitter.
本周，号召关停水族馆的呼声仍在中国社交媒体上持续。“这是虐待！请抵制！”微博有人评论道。
Animal Asia said it would continue to fight to improve conditions in such attractions.
亚洲动物基金会称，他们将继续为提高类似场所的动物生存状况而奋斗。
“The sad truth is, in this instance, we can’t immediately shut down Grandview. And they are unlikely to free this bear, or any of the other animals they house, at least not in the short-term,” Neale admitted, adding: “If our experience has taught us anything – first you open doors, then you open cages.”
“悲伤的是，在这次事件中我们不能立刻关停美事购物中心。他们也不可能给这头北极熊或他们囚禁的任何其他动物自由，至少短期内不会。”尼尔承认，并说：“如果我们从这次经历中学会什么-那就是首先你要打开一扇门，接着才能打开兽笼。”
