泰国旅游骤减为稀有海洋生物创造生存空间 | VOA

Drop in Tourism Makes Space for Rare Sea Creatures in Thailand

泰国旅游骤减为稀有海洋生物创造空间

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.

在泰国南部的浅水区很少能见到儒艮，这种濒临灭绝的海洋哺乳动物。但由于旅行限制，热门旅游景点空无一人，最近一大群儒艮开始现身。

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.

上周，泰国国家公园管理局发布的一段无人机视频显示，荔邦岛附近有约30只儒艮。视频中它们正在吃海草。每隔一段时间，它们就会浮出水面呼吸。

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.

儒艮与海牛密切相关。它们可以长到3.4米长。据估计，在泰国沿海水域生活着250只儒艮。儒艮是受泰国法律保护的物种。

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.

近年来，由于人类活动和水污染，儒艮出现在泰国南部的景象已经非常罕见。去年，在泰国水域发现了大量儒艮死亡，死亡数量史上未见。

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."

海洋科学家通·汤荣纳瓦萨瓦特谈及儒艮景观时说：“这种哺乳动物对快艇和人类非常敏感。人类和快艇离开后，这些动物才可以自由自在地聚集在一起并靠近海岸。”

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，泰国动物医生抱着生病的儒艮宝宝，用手喂它牛奶和海草的照片传开后，儒艮引起了媒体的关注。即便是在这种悉心照料下，儒艮幼崽还是在两个月后死了。

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.

在对儒艮幼崽进行尸检时，发现其肠道内有大量的塑料废物。这导致儒艮患了严重的胃部疾病和血液感染。

Naturalists report that other rare marine animals have also been seen recently in shallow Thai waters.

生物学家报告称，最近在泰国浅水区还发现了其他稀有海洋动物。

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.

通·汤荣纳瓦萨瓦特表示，有报道称，泰国南部多地有大批鲨鱼异乎寻常地现身靠近陆地。据皮皮岛的公园工作人员提供的视频显示，在玛雅湾浅水区有70至100只黑鳍鲨。该地区因莱昂纳多·迪卡普里奥的电影《海滩》而闻名。两年前，该海湾为恢复环境对游客关闭。该岛的国家公园自今年3月开始关闭，以防止新冠病毒传播。

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.