时差N小时 动物之间也会互相帮助(下)（在线收听）

But evolutionists suggest that when animals help animals who are their genetic relatives, or who are likely to return the favor later on, they are actually helping their species to survive the process of natural selection.

但进化论者认为，当动物们在帮助那些遗传亲属，或可能会在稍后回报其所提供的这种帮助时，它们实际上是在帮助它们的种群能够在自然选择的过程中存活下来。

Some animals will even sacrifice their own lives to insure the survival of the larger group.

某些动物甚至会牺牲自己的生命以保全更大种群的存活。

The worker honeybee, for example, will die defending her hive if necessary.

比如说工蜂，在保护蜂巢的过程中就会不惜牺牲生命。

Even acts that seem selfish may end up helping the group in the long run.

甚至，某些看上去貌似自私的行为实际长远看来也有助于种群存活。

For instance, when there isn't enough food to go around, wasps and termites will cannibalize their nest-mates.

比如说，当附近没有足够的食物时，黄蜂和白蚁就会对它们同族的伙伴进行蚕食。

Gruesome as this may seem, it insures the colony's survival through tough times.

也许听上去很可怕，但实际上这保证了艰难时期种群的存活。

Although here at A Moment of Science, we don't condone human cannibalism, we still hope that these examples of altruism in animals will give you some food for thought.

我们《科学一刻》栏目虽然不能宽恕人类自相残杀的行为，但我们希望，这些存在于动物之间的利他主义将会带给大家一些发人深省的思想。