中国“龙”龙年濒临灭顶之灾-环宇时空-休闲英语-轻松英语-洪恩在线

Chinese "Dragons" Face Extinction in Year of the Dragon
By Cat Lazaroff

中华鳄 As Chinese communities throughout the world celebrate the Year of the Dragon, China's true dragon - the Chinese alligator[1] - teeters[2] on the brink of extinction. Fewer than 150 remain in the wild, according to a report released by the Wildlife Conservation Society, but biologists believe that the species can stage a comeback[3] if given the oportunity.

Known locally as Tu Long, or "muddy dragon," the remaining populations of these timid reptiles are relegated to just a few village ponds in heavily populated southeastern Anhui Province, says the report by the Bronx Zoo based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Although the alligators technically live in a wildlife reserve, very little has been done to safeguard their habitat.

Hunting and the use of agricultural pesticides have contributed to 中华鳄 their decline. "Presently, the Chinese alligator is critically endangered and, if present trends continue, it will become the first species of crocodilian to become extinct in the wild within historical[4] times," said Dr. John Thorbjarnarson, a WCS conservation biologist and an authority on the world's 23 crocodilian species.

"Losing the Chinese alligator would be an ironic fate for an animal with such a rich, cultural significance in China," Thorbjarnarson said.

Celebrated every 12 years, the Year of the Dragon is considered to be particularly prosperous since dragons symbolize authority, courage and good fortune among Asians. The year 2000 is even more auspicious because it is also a "golden dragon" year, which occurs once every 60 years.

注释：

1． alligator：
钝吻鳄属（短吻鳄属）爬行动物。头长，吻宽大。上颚有一特殊凹窝以容下颚扩大的第四枚齿。一般比真鳄属的典型鳄要呆滞得多。中国的扬子鳄就属于这类，体型较小，为珍稀动物。

2． teeter：
蹒跚，摇摇欲坠。比如：The bridge teetered in the wind. 那座桥在风中摇晃。这个词还能用来描述心情，比如：“她还在犹豫不绝”就可以译成： She was teetering on the decision.

3． comeback：
这个词经常与stage搭配使用，表示“东山再起”，比如：He staged a comeback and succeeded in putting it over. 他设法恢复原职，居然成功了。

4． historical：
这个词容易与historic弄混，大家千万要分清。Historical主要意思是指“历史的，与历史有关的，真实的而不是传说中的”，比如“历史学会”就译为the Historical Society。而historic则是指历史上有名的或富有历史意义的，比如historic event 具有历史意义的大事。

中国“龙”龙年濒临灭顶之灾

当全球华人欢庆龙年之际，中国的真龙——中华鳄——却濒临灭顶之灾。据野生动物保护协会发布的消息，野生中华鳄仅存150只。但是生物学家相信只要时机适宜，该物种的数量是能够恢复的。

中华鳄被当地人称为土龙或“泥龙”。据野生动物保护协会（WCS）驻Bronx动物园机构的报告称：目前，这些存留下来的胆小的爬行动物已经退居到人口密集的安徽省东南部的几个村庄池塘里了。尽管，中华鳄一般生活在野生动物保护区，我们对它们家园的保护却还远远不够。

非法盗猎和农用杀虫剂的滥用是导致中华鳄数量卒减的重要原因。“目前中华鳄处境堪忧，如果这种趋势继续下去的话，它将会成为在新的历史时代里灭绝的第一种野生鳄。”WCS(野生动物保护协会)动物保护生物学家John Thorbjarnarson博士这样说。他是研究全世界23种鳄的权威人士。

“中华鳄的失去对于中国境内具有如此丰富文化意义的动物们来说是一种讽刺性的命运。”Thorbjarnarson如是说。

每隔12年庆祝一次的龙年被认为是最繁荣的一个年份，因为在亚洲人心目中龙象征权利、勇气和好运。而2000年则更为吉利，因为它是每60年才庆祝一次的“金龙年”。