VOA慢速英语2020 泰国旅游骤减 为稀有海洋生物创造空间

Drop in Tourism Makes Space for Rare Sea Creatures in Thailand

It is rare to see a dugong, a threatened sea mammal, in southern Thailands shallow waters. But thanks to travel restrictions¹ that have left popular travel spots empty,a large group of them recently made their presence known.

在泰国南部的浅水区很少能见到儒艮，这种濒临灭绝的海洋哺乳动物。但由于旅行限制，热门旅游景点空无一人，最近一大群儒艮开始现身。

Drone video released last week by Thailands Department of National Parks shows about 30 dugongs off Libong island.The animals were feeding on sea grass.Every so often, they came up to the surface of the water to breathe.

上周，泰国国家公园管理局发布的一段无人机视频显示，荔邦岛附近有约30只儒艮。视频中它们正在吃海草。每隔一段时间，它们就会浮出水面呼吸。

Dugongs are closely related to the manatee², or sea cow.They can grow up to 3.4 meters in length.An estimated 250 dugongs live in the waters off the Thai coast.They are a protected species under Thai law.

儒艮与海牛关系密切。它们可以长到3.4米长。据估计，在泰国沿海水域生活着250只儒艮。它们是受泰国法律保护的物种。

Human activity and water pollution have made dugong sightings in southern Thailand rare in recent years.And last year, a record number of dead dugongs were found in Thai waters.

近年来，由于人类活动和水污染，儒艮出现在泰国南部的景象已经非常罕见。去年，在泰国水域发现了大量儒艮死亡，死亡数量史无前例。

Marine³ scientist Thon Thamrongnawasawat said of the dugong sightings,"This species of mammal is very sensitive to speed boats and people.When they are gone, they feel free to gather in a large group and come close to shore."

海洋科学家通·汤荣纳瓦萨瓦特谈及儒艮景观时说：“这种哺乳动物对快艇和人类非常敏感。他们离开后，这些动物才可以感到自由，聚集成一大群，靠近海岸。”

The animals gained media attention last yearafter images spread of Thai animal doctors holding a sick baby dugong and hand-feeding her milk and sea grass.Even with such care, the baby died two months later.

去年，这些动物引起了媒体的关注。这与相关图片的传播有关，图片内容是泰国兽医抱着生病的儒艮幼崽，用手喂其吃奶和海草。即便是在这种悉心照料下，儒艮幼崽还是在两个月后死了。

An examination of her body after her death found a large amount of plastic waste in her intestines⁴.This led to severe stomach problems and a blood infection.

在对儒艮幼崽进行尸检时，发现其肠道内有大量的塑料废物。这导致了它严重的胃部疾病和血液感染。

Naturalists⁵ report that other rare marine animals have also been seen recently in shallow Thai waters.

生物学家报告称，最近在泰国浅水区还发现了其他稀有海洋动物。 

Thon said there have been reports of large numbers of sharks coming unusually close to land in several places in southern Thailand.Video from park workers on Phi Phi island shows between 70 and 100 blacktip sharks in the shallow waters of the Maya Bay.The area was made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio movie "The Beach."The bay was closed to visitors two years ago for environmental recovery.The islands national park has been shut since March to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

通·汤荣纳瓦萨瓦特表示，有报道称，泰国南部多地有大批鲨鱼异乎寻常地现身靠近陆地。据皮皮岛的公园工作人员提供的视频显示，在玛雅湾浅水区有70至100只黑鳍鲨。该地区因莱昂纳多·迪卡普里奥的电影《海滩》而闻名。两年前，该海湾为恢复环境对游客关闭。该岛的国家公园自今年3月开始关闭，以防止新冠病毒传播。

Park workers there also counted 10 to 15 false killer⁶ whales, another protected species, near the popular tourist island of Koh Lanta.It marked the first time the animals have been seen in that area.

公园工作人员还发现了10到15头伪虎鲸，这是另一种受保护物种，就在热门旅游景点兰塔岛附近。这标志着该地区首次发现伪虎鲸。

Im Ashley Thompson.

阿什莉·汤普森报道。 

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 manatee   

n.海牛

参考例句：

• We watched dolphin,manatee,sea lion and whale shows.我们看了海豚、海牛、海狮和鲸的表演。
• One of the most extraordinary river creatures is Amazonian manatee.其中河里最特别的生物之一要数亚马孙海牛。

3 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

4 intestines   

n.肠( intestine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Perhaps the most serious problems occur in the stomach and intestines. 最严重的问题或许出现在胃和肠里。 来自辞典例句
• The traps of carnivorous plants function a little like the stomachs and small intestines of animals. 食肉植物的捕蝇器起着动物的胃和小肠的作用。 来自辞典例句

5 naturalists   

n.博物学家( naturalist的名词复数 )；（文学艺术的）自然主义者

参考例句：

• Naturalists differ much in determining what characters are of generic value. 自然学者对于不同性状决定生物的属的含义上，各有各的见解。 来自辞典例句
• This fact has led naturalists to believe that the Isthmus was formerly open. 使许多自然学者相信这个地蛱在以前原是开通的。 来自辞典例句

6 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。