近代以前上海地区的老虎活动——以方志为中心的考察

On the Traces of Tigers in Shanghai in Different Historical Periods-As Recorded in LocaL Chronicles

方志上有老虎在上海地区活动的大量记录。从时间看,主要出现在元末至清乾隆以前;从地域看,上海的大部分地区都有过老虎活动的踪影,以西北部的嘉定和宝山,南部和西南部的金山和松江,老虎出现的频率最高。老虎为害剧烈,严重影响了人类的正常生活,于是政府和民众都想尽办法捕杀老虎。老虎能在上海地区活动,说明古代上海有大量的滩涂荡地和荒地,有大量的水面,老虎有活动的纵深空间及赖以生活的森林草地等自然植被环境。随着明清大量荒地开垦,滩涂变成熟地,河道水面变成粮田,老虎的栖息地日益缩小,人类的活动侵入了老虎的生活范围,导致老虎咬人伤人事件不断。乾隆二十六年以后,随着自然环境的较大变化,老虎在上海不再出现。

There were a large number of accounts on the traces of tigers in Shanghai in different historical periods. Tigers were found in most regions of Shanghai from late Yuan dynasty to early Qing dynasty. Tigers were found in those areas because the environment were fit for their living. However,during the Ming and Qing dynasties,the tigers’ habitats became increasingly smaller in size and their living space was invaded due to people's reclamation of land. Therefore the tigers frequently attacked people. After 1761,tigers no longer appeared in Shanghai as a result of the change of natural environment.