纪录片《南太平洋》 第135期 奇异岛屿（11）（在线收听）

The very first bat evolved from a mouse-like mammal many millions of years ago.

数百万年前最初的蝙蝠是从类似老鼠的哺乳动物演化而来

Here on New Zealand, it seems evolution has gone into reverse.

在新西兰这里，似乎演化被推翻了

And if New Zealand's bats have turned to mice, what on earth has happened to the birds?

即使新西兰蝙蝠是从老鼠转化而来，地上的鸟发生了什么？

In these forests lives a bird that is about as un-bird-like as it is possible for a bird to be.

在这些森林里生活着一种既像鸟又不像鸟的鸟

It's nocturnal, though it sometimes wakes up before sunset.

它是夜间活动的 虽然有时也会在日落前活跃起来

It has whiskers so it can feel its way in the dark.

它有在黑暗中感知道路的腮须

It's a parrot, and weighing up to four kilos, it's the world's heaviest.

它是世上最重的鹦鹉 体重超过4公斤

And yes, you've guessed it - it can't fly. Meet the kakapo.

是的，你猜对了它不会飞。见识一下鸮鹉

Too heavy and short-winged to get airborne, it climbs trees instead.

要飞翅膀太短身体太重，只能改为爬树

Kakapo were once one of the most successful and abundant herbivores in New Zealand

鸮鹉昔日相当成功新西兰有大量的食草动物

the Kiwi equivalent of our rabbit.

几维鸟就像我们的兔子

In 1899, explorer Charlie Douglas wrote,

1899年 探险家查理·道格拉斯写道

"They could be caught in the moonlight "by simply shaking the tree or bush

"在晚上只要简单地摇动树或灌木

"until they tumbled to the ground... like shaking down apples."

直到它们跌到地面...就像摇落苹果一样"