It is rare to see a dugong, a threatened sea mammal, in southern Thailand's shallow waters. But thanks to travel restrictions that have left popular travel spots empty, a large group of them recently made their presence known.
在泰國南部的淺水區，一種面臨滅絕的海洋哺乳動物儒艮已經十分罕見。但由於旅遊限制令的頒布，原本的旅遊勝地變得冷清起來，使得大批儒艮神秘的身影再次浮現海面。
Drone video released this week by Thailand's 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.
泰國國家公園管理局本周發布的一段無人機視頻顯示，在立貢島附近有大約有30隻儒艮正在進吃海草。每隔一段時間，還會浮到水面上來呼吸。
Dugongs are closely related to the manatee, 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.
儒艮與海牛關係密切，體長可達3.4米。估計有250隻儒艮生活在泰國海岸附近的水域並被列入泰國保護物種法。
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.
近幾年人類活動和水體汙染使得儒艮在泰國南部的目擊事件變得十分罕見。就在去年，在泰國水域發現的死亡儒艮數量創下紀錄。
Marine 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."
海洋科學家Thon Thamrongnawasawat在談到儒艮時表示:「這種哺乳動物對快艇和人類非常敏感。當遊人不在時，它們才可以自由地聚集在一起，靠近海岸。」
The animals gained media attention last year after 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，泰國動物醫生抱著生病的儒艮寶寶，用手餵她牛奶和海草的照片傳開後，這些動物引起了媒體的注意。即使有這樣的照顧，儒艮寶寶兩個月後還是死了。
An examination of her body after her death found a large amount of plastic waste in her intestines. This led to severe stomach problems and a blood infection.
儒艮寶寶死後的屍檢發現，在其腸道裡有大量的塑料垃圾，這導致了嚴重的胃部問題和血液感染。
Naturalists report that other rare marine animals have also been seen recently in shallow Thai waters.
博物學家報告說，最近在泰國淺水區也發現了其他珍稀海洋動物。
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 island's national park has been shut since March to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
Thon表示，有報導稱，在泰國南部的幾個地方，大量鯊魚異乎尋常地靠近陸地。來自皮皮島公園工作人員的視頻顯示，在瑪雅灣淺水區有70到100條黑鰭鯊。這個地區因萊昂納多·迪卡普裡奧的電影《海灘》而出名。兩年前，該海灣因環境恢復而對遊客關閉。該島的國家公園自3月以來一直關閉，以防止新冠狀病毒的傳播。
Park workers there also counted 10 to 15 false killer 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.
公園工作人員還在著名的旅遊勝地蘭大島附近發現了10到15頭假虎鯨，這是另一個受保護的物種。這是該地區首次發現這種動物。
編譯：By Aslan, April 29, 2020