愛丁堡動物園有一對明星熊貓夫妻——甜甜和陽光。在過去的近10年裡,它們備受矚目,也給動物園創造了巨額收益。最近,由於疫情的影響,動物園養不起它們了!
Edinburgh Zoo may have to return its giant pandas to China due to financial pressures created by the coronavirus pandemic.
由於冠狀病毒大流行造成的經濟壓力,愛丁堡動物園可能不得不將大熊貓送回中國。
Tian Tian and Yang Guang arrived on a 10-year loan from China in December 2011 and are the UK's only giant pandas. But the mating pair, who cost about 1m a year to lease, may have to return there next year thanks to a 2m blackhole in funds.
2011年12月,甜甜和楊光抵達英國,租期10年,它們是英國唯一的大熊貓。不過由於200萬英鎊的資金缺口,這對年租金100萬英鎊的熊貓夫妻,可能明年被迫送回中國。
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which runs both Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park, said it suffered after it was forced to close for three months during the summer. David Field, chief executive of the Society, says the charity will have to "seriously consider every potential saving" including their giant panda contract and the cost of their daily care. Mr Field added: "Although our parks are open again, we lost around 2m last year and it seems certain that restrictions, social distancing and limits on our visitor numbers will continue for some time, which will also reduce our income."
同時運營愛丁堡動物園和高地野生動物園的蘇格蘭皇家動物學會表示,該動物園在夏季被迫關閉三個月後受到影響。協會執行長大衛菲爾德表示,慈善機構必須「認真考慮每一項可能的節省」,包括他們與大熊貓的合約以及日常護理費用。「雖然動物園重新開放,但去年我們損失了大約200萬英鎊,似乎可以肯定的是,限制、社交距離和對遊客數量的限制將持續一段時間,這也將減少我們的收入。」
The pair, known affectionately as Sweetie and Sunshine, live in separate enclosures and only meet once a year in the breeding season.
這對被親切地稱為「甜甜」和「陽光」的夫妻生活在不同的圍欄裡,每年只在繁殖季節相遇一次。
In 2012, the pandas were brought together for the first time in a "love tunnel" when female Tian Tian was ready to reproduce. Although "sparks flew" between the two, they failed to mate and artificial insemination has been tried every year since 2013.
2012年,當雌性熊貓甜甜準備繁殖時,這對熊貓第一次被帶到了「愛情隧道」裡。雖然兩隻熊貓之間「火花四濺」,但它們未能交配,從2013年起每年都嘗試人工授精。
In 2018 Yang Guang had surgery to remove both testicles after tumours were found. Tian Tian has had cubs in China, but not since arriving in the UK.
2018年,在發現腫瘤後,陽光做了兩側睪丸切除手術。甜甜在中國有過幼崽,但到了英國後就再沒有過。
Mr Field said: "Yang Guang and Tian Tian have made a tremendous impression on our visitors over the last nine years, helping millions of people connect to nature and inspiring them to take an interest in wildlife conservation.
菲爾德先生說:「在過去的九年裡,楊光和甜甜給我們的遊客留下了深刻的印象,幫助數以百萬計的人接觸大自然,激發他們對野生動物保護的興趣。
"I would love for them to be able to stay for a few more years with us and that is certainly my current aim."
「我希望它們能在我們這裡多待幾年,這當然是我當前的目標。」
愛丁堡動物園是一些動物保護項目中不可或缺的一部分,然而由於脫歐,英國無法向歐盟申請資金扶持;疫情的影響更是讓這些項目雪上加霜。不論明年甜甜和陽光是會回國,或是繼續留在愛丁堡,都祝願它們能擁有快樂的生活。
Vocabulary:
1. Blackhole 黑洞
2. Zoological 動物的
3. Enclosure圈用地
4. Breeding 繁殖
5. Artificial insemination 人工授精
6. Tumour 腫瘤
7. Cub 崽
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