Also important are the protection of water supplies , the control of poaching , and improved monitoring of equid populations 另外，保护水源、阻止盗猎，以及提升监测野生马族群的技术，也都是亟待进行的工作。
2.
This kind of trade - off can be a good reproductive strategy , and it worked well for equids for millennia 这不啻为一种成功的繁殖策略，而且千百年来运作良好；但如今这种繁殖策略却因为野生马死亡率大增而面临挑战。
3.
During this period , some 20 , 000 to 25 , 000 years ago , equids were among the most abundant and ecologically important herbivores on the grasslands of africa , asia and the americas 那时约莫是在25000 ~ 20000年前，马科动物正活跃于非洲、亚洲及美洲的草原上， ?们为数众多，且是在生态系中扮演重要角色的草食动物之一。
4.
Today only seven species of wild equids remain ? three asses , three zebra and one wild horse ? and iucn - the world conservation union now lists most of these as endangered [ see box on opposite page ] 如今，野生的马科动物只剩七种：野驴、斑马各有三种，以及野马一种，世界保育联盟（ iucn ）已将?们列为濒临绝种的野生动物（参见右页现存的野生马科动物） 。
5.
What we have uncovered so far tells us that their behavior is typical for equids living in arid habitats : the dominant males maintain mating territories , and the only socially stable group is a mother and her offspring 我们目前的研究结果指出，非洲野驴的行为模式，就是乾燥环境下马科动物的典型生活模式，亦即优势雄驴会占有领土并取得交配权，且只有雌驴和子代会形成稳定关系。
6.
Wildlife biologists , including the equid specialist group of the iucn , which i chair , study the dwindling populations to learn as much as possible about these historically important animals while they still roam free 包括iucn我所主持的马科动物专家小组在内的野生动物学家，正在研究这些在人类历史上十分重要，但数量却不断减少的族群，以便在?们仍漫游于大草原之际，尽可能地了解?们。
7.
Whichever mating system they follow , the territorial or the harem , all wild equids tend to have their first offspring only after reaching four or five years of age ; subsequently , they then reproduce only every other year until the end of their lives at about 16 years of age 不管是采用后宫系统或是占领领土的方式来进行交配，所有的野生马都要年满4 ~ 5岁才会生下第一胎，接下来则是每隔一年繁殖一次，直到生命结束为止，通常是16岁左右。
8.
In its plan for actions to counter these problems , the equid specialist group of the iucn gives top priority to finding out more about the animals themselves ? basic biology , seasonal movements , interactions with livestock , and the dynamics of the arid ecosystems in which they live 为了因应这些问题， iucn马科动物专家小组在保育计画中指出，首要工作是尽可能了解这些动物，包括?们的基础生物学、季节迁徙，与家畜间的相互影响，以及?们所处乾燥生态系的动态。
