新奇事件簿 世界最后一只雄性白犀牛死亡

Conservationists and animal lovers are in mourning today for the loss of Sudan the rhinoceros². Sudan was the world's last male northern white rhino¹. The 45-year-old animal was put down by his carers at a zoo in Kenya after "age-related complications". He had been in very poor health recently due to his old age. Zoo officials say his condition had "worsened significantly" and that he no longer had the strength to stand. His muscles had severely³ deteriorated⁴ throughout his body and his skin had "extensive wounds". The zoo's director said: "Sudan's death was a cruel symbol of human disregard for nature and it saddened everyone who knew him....He stole the heart of many with his dignity and strength."

今天自然资源保护者和动物爱好者们为白犀牛苏丹的死亡而哀悼。苏丹是世界上最后一只雄性白犀牛。由于“高龄并发症”，这只45岁的动物在肯尼亚的动物园中被护工杀死。由于高龄问题，最近他的健康状况非常糟糕。动物园的管理者表示他的健康状况“急剧恶化”，连站起来的力气都没有了。他全身的肌肉严重退化，皮肤也出现“大面积创伤”。动物园理事长说道：“苏丹的死亡是人类漠视自然的残酷象征，他的死亡让每个认识他的人悲痛... 他的尊严和力量偷走了很多人的心。”

Like many of Earth's majestic⁵ beasts, hunters have hunted the northern white rhino to near-extinction. There were more than 2,000 northern white rhino in the wild in the 1960s but their numbers continually dwindled⁶ because of the value of their horns. The only remaining northern white rhinos⁷ today are two females - Sudan's daughter and granddaughter. Both animals live in captivity⁸ so they will be protected. There are hopes that the two females can produce young to keep the species going. In vitro fertilization techniques using stored semen from other dead rhinos could be used to impregnate Sudan's offspring. The zoo is hoping to raise $9 million to fund the conservation project.

和地球上的许多雄伟野兽一样，捕猎者的追捕让北方白犀牛几近灭绝。1960年代，野外生存着两千多头北方白犀牛，但由于他们犀牛角的价值连城，他们的数量一直在减少。如今仅存的两头北方白犀牛是两头雌性犀牛—苏丹的女儿和孙女。她们生活在保护区内。人们希望这两头雌性白犀牛能繁育后代，让这支物种得以延续。试管内受精技术能够让苏丹的后代孕育，这项技术中的精子来自其他已死亡犀牛。动物园希望能够筹集九百万美元用于资助这项保护项目。

 

1 rhino   

n.犀牛，钱, 现金

参考例句：

• The rhino charged headlong towards us.犀牛急速地向我们冲来。
• They have driven the rhino to the edge of extinction.他们已经令犀牛濒临灭绝。

2 rhinoceros   

n.犀牛

参考例句：

• The rhinoceros has one horn on its nose.犀牛鼻子上有一个角。
• The body of the rhinoceros likes a cattle and the head likes a triangle.犀牛的形体像牛，头呈三角形。

3 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

4 deteriorated   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Her health deteriorated rapidly, and she died shortly afterwards. 她的健康状况急剧恶化，不久便去世了。
• His condition steadily deteriorated. 他的病情恶化，日甚一日。

5 majestic   

adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的

参考例句：

• In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
• He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。

6 dwindled   

v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Support for the party has dwindled away to nothing. 支持这个党派的人渐渐化为乌有。
• His wealth dwindled to nothingness. 他的钱财化为乌有。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 rhinos   

n.犀牛（rhino的复数形式）

参考例句：

• There are many reports of people taming and even training Indian rhinos. 有许多关于人们驯养甚至训练印度犀牛的记载。 来自辞典例句
• The rhinos had fed during the night in the rice fields of these villagers. 犀牛夜里在这些村民的庄稼地里也已吃饱了。 来自辞典例句

8 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。