VOA慢速英语2020 稀有大猩猩和幼崽首次被相机抓拍到

A conservation group has captured the first images of rare Cross River gorillas¹ with their babies.Scientists once feared that this rare kind of gorilla² had disappeared from existence.But, the images show it is reproducing³ as efforts to protect the animal continue.

一个保护组织首次抓拍到稀有的克罗斯河大猩猩与其幼崽在一起的照片。科学家们一度担心这种稀有大猩猩已经灭绝了。但是，这些照片显示，由于人们对克罗斯河大猩猩的努力保护，这种动物还在繁殖。

The Wildlife Conservation Society, or WCS, had placed cameras in an area of Nigerias Mbe mountains, where the Cross River gorillas live.The organization recently released the images, which were taken in May.The camera captured images of Cross River gorilla adults and babies.

野生动物保护协会（WCS）在尼日利亚Mbe山脉的一个区域放置了摄像机，那里是克罗斯河大猩猩的栖息地。该组织最近公布了这些五月份拍摄的照片。摄像机拍下了成年克罗斯河大猩猩及幼崽的照片。

A statement on the groups website describes Cross River gorillas as "the most threatened ape in Africa."These gorillas live in a small mountainous area at the beginning of the River Cross, along the border between Nigeria and Cameroon.

该组织网站上的一份声明称，克罗斯河大猩猩是“非洲最受威胁的猿类”。这些大猩猩生活在尼日利亚和喀麦隆边境的克罗斯河起点处的一个小山区。

Only around 300 Cross River gorillas were known to be alive in the area, noted⁴ WCS.

野生动物保护协会指出，该地区已知存活着的克罗斯河大猩猩只有大约300只。 

Although illegal hunting is common in the area, the Cross River gorilla is rarely a target of such activity, says WCS.But hunters often use animal traps that represent a threat to the gorillas survival⁵.

野生动物保护协会说，尽管非法捕猎在该地区很常见，但克罗斯河大猩猩却很少成为这种活动的目标。但是捕猎者经常设计动物陷阱，那会威胁到克罗斯河大猩猩的生存。

John Oates is a former professor at the City University of New York and a primatologist.He helped establish conservation efforts for the gorillas more than 20 years ago.

约翰·奥茨是前纽约城市大学教授和灵长类动物学家。20多年前，他帮助组织了保护克罗斯河大猩猩的的活动。

"It was great to see evidence that these gorillas in these mountains are reproducing successfully,because there have been so few images in the past," he told The Associated Press."We know very little about what is going on with reproduction with this subspecies,so to see many young animals is a positive sign."

“很高兴看到有证据表明，生活在这些山里的克罗斯河大猩猩能够成功繁殖，因为过去很少有这样的照片，”他告诉美联社。“我们对这个亚种的繁殖情况知之甚少，所以看到这么多年幼的克罗斯河大猩猩是一个积极的信号。”

Im John Russell.

约翰·拉塞尔为您播报。 

1 gorillas   

n.大猩猩( gorilla的名词复数 )；暴徒，打手

参考例句：

• the similitude between humans and gorillas 人类和大猩猩的相像
• Each family of gorillas is led by a great silverbacked patriarch. 每个大星星家族都由一个魁梧的、长着银色被毛的族长带领着。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 gorilla   

n.大猩猩，暴徒，打手

参考例句：

• I was awed by the huge gorilla.那只大猩猩使我惊惧。
• A gorilla is just a speechless animal.猩猩只不过是一种不会说话的动物。

3 reproducing   

复制( reproduce的现在分词 )； 重现； 再版； 生殖

参考例句：

• Mind has become self-reproducing through man's capacity to transmit experience and its products cumulatively. 通过传递生活经验和积累创造的产品，人类的智慧在不断地进行着自我丰富。
• Spores form a lipid membrane during the process of reproducing. 孢于在生殖过程中形成类脂膜。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 预防生物武器

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 survival   

n.留住生命，生存，残存，幸存者

参考例句：

• The doctor told my wife I had a fifty-fifty chance of survival.医生告诉我的妻子，说我活下去的可能性只有50%。
• The old man was a survival of a past age.这位老人是上一代的遗老。