盜獵和走私
The global market for exotic pets is booming, with some attributing its recent rise to the sharing of unique and “cute” pet images on social media.
全球稀有寵物市場蓬勃發展，一些人將其最近的興起歸因於在社交媒體上分享的獨特且可愛的寵物圖片。
boom(v.)蓬勃發展attribute…to… 把～歸因於～unique(adj.)獨特的=one of a kindimage(n.)影像、圖片、形象corporate image企業形象
This has resulted not only in a global wildlife trade worth billions of dollars but also in threats to the existence of countless species of animals.
這不僅導致了價值數十億美元的全球野生動物貿易，還威脅到無數物種的生存。
result in 導致、造成=lead to=bring abouttrade(n.)貿易(v.)交換=exchangethreat(n.)威脅pose a threat to~ 對～構成威脅existence(n.)存在come into existence開始存在=come into beingspecies(n.)物種(單複數同型)
There is no single definition of what makes an animal “exotic;” the “exotic-ness” of any species is relative to its native location as well as its status of being domesticated.
關於什麼樣的動物算是「稀有」的，沒有單一的定義；任何物種的「稀有性」都與其原生地以及是否被馴化的狀態有關。
definition(n.)定義by definition按照定義be relative to...與～有關=be related to...be native to...原生於=be indigenous to...domesticate(v.)使馴化、馴養、使精於家務
So if an animal lives outside of its natural habitat or is kept as a pet instead of living freely in the wild, then it is generally considered “exotic.”
因此，如果某動物生活在其自然棲息地之外，或者作為寵物飼養，而不是自由生活在野外，那麼該動物一般就被認為是「稀有」的。
natural habitat自然棲息地in the wild在野外consider(v.)視為;視作=deem
In the US and Europe, for example, tigers, parrots and tropical snakes kept in the home would be exotic pets.
例如，在美國和歐洲，老虎、鸚鵡和熱帶蛇被飼養在家中就會被視為稀有寵物。
tropical(adj.)熱帶的subtropical(adj.)亞熱帶的
Currently, the global trade for wild animals is worth between $30.6 and $42.8 billion.
目前，全球野生動物貿易額在306億美元至428億美元之間。
The reason for this wide range is due to the unknown amount that comes from illegal operations, such as poaching and smuggling, which some estimate at around $22.8 billion of the total.
金額範圍之所以如此大，是因為有來自盜獵和走私等非法活動的未知金額，有人估計約佔總額的228億美元。
due to因為;由於=owing to=as a result ofillegal operations非法行動operation(n.)行動peacekeeping operations維和行動poach(v.)偷獵、盜獵smuggle(v.)走私、偷運
Despite this enormous value of the worldwide market, the United States — where about 50% of pets are considered to be exotic — accounts for over $15 billion alone.
儘管全球市場的價值如此巨大，光是美國就佔了超過150億美元，在當地約有50%的寵物被認為是稀有寵物。
despite(prep.)儘管=in spite ofaccount for 佔～alone(adv.)單單;僅僅
However, experts believe that this huge global market for exotic pets is actually detrimental to the Earth’s biodiversity, as some specific species that are desired as pets are being threatened with extinction.
然而，專家們認為，這龐大的全球稀有寵物市場實際上對地球的生物多樣性有害，因為一些受歡迎、人們想當作寵物養的特定物種正面臨滅絕的威脅。
expert(n.)專家expertise(n.)專業知識detrimental(adj.)有害的biodiversity(n.)生物多樣性diverse(adj.)多樣的;各式各樣的extinction(n.)滅絕extinct(adj.)絕種的、滅絕的on the verge of extinction瀕臨絕種
Additionally, animals that are already living in captivity are likely suffering in some way due to improper living conditions.
此外，已經被圈養的動物很可能因為不當的飼養方式而遭受痛苦。
additionally(adv.)此外=moreovercaptivity(n.)囚禁、圈養suffer(v.)受苦、蒙受(痛苦)improper(adj.)不恰當的;不適當的;不道德的
Therefore, despite the popularity of the trend, people should carefully consider the effects of their actions before deciding to keep an exotic pet.
因此，儘管飼養稀有寵物的趨勢很流行，但人們在決定飼養稀有寵物之前，還是應該仔細考慮其行為的影響。
therefore(adv.)因此=hence=thusgain popularity越來越受歡迎trend(n.)趨勢;潮流trendsetter(n.)創新潮流的人effect(n.)影響=implication