好英语网香港大熊猫盈盈乐乐13年来首次自然交配成功
HONG KONG — Ying Ying and Le Le, two giant pandas who could never quite get in the mood over 13 years of living together in a Hong Kong zoo, successfully mated on Monday, a rare feat for the famously low-libido species and a cause of celebration in the world of animal conservation.
香港——周一，香港一间动物园里的两只大熊猫盈盈和乐乐终于首次自然交配成功。在过去的13年间，他们一直生活在一起，却从没有这方面的心思。这次的自然交配对于著名的“性冷淡”物种熊猫来说是难得的“壮举”，值得全世界动物保护者们庆祝。
The coupling of the pandas, animals that have a mating “season” of just a few days per year, lifted hope that the population of the vulnerable species might be about to increase. Whether in captivity or in the wild, giant pandas rarely show the desire or skill to mate, imperiling their survival and making their infrequent romps worthy of acclaim.
大熊猫是一种每年的交配“季节”只有几天的动物，它们的结合提升了人们对这一易危物种的数量可能增加的希望。不管是人工饲养还是在野外坏境里，大熊猫都很少表现出交配的意愿，或展现交配技巧，这危及了它们的生存，也使熊猫之间偶尔的嬉戏调情值得称道。
盈盈和乐乐在香港海洋公园。熊猫的交配“季节”每年只有几天。
Perhaps Ying Ying and Le Le just needed some privacy. Ocean Park shut down on Jan. 26 as part of Hong Kong’s measures to fight the coronavirus, leaving the amusement park and zoo free of its usual throngs of visitors.
也许盈盈和乐乐只是需要一些隐私。作为香港抗击新冠病毒措施的一部分，海洋公园于1月26日关闭。这使得游乐园和动物园中没有大批游客。
“Since Ying Ying and Le Le’s arrival in Hong Kong in 2007 and attempts at natural mating since 2010, they unfortunately have yet to succeed until this year upon years of trial and learning,” said Michael Boos, executive director in zoological operations and conservation at Ocean Park. “The successful natural mating process today is extremely exciting for all of us, as the chance of pregnancy via natural mating is higher than by artificial insemination.”
“盈盈和乐乐于2007年来香港，2011年开始尝试自然交配，可惜未曾成功。经过多年的尝试与学习，今年终于成功了，”海洋公园动物及保育执行总监迈克尔·博斯(Michael Boos)说。 “这次成功的自然交配过程让我们所有人都非常雀跃，因为通过自然交配受孕的机会比人工受孕要高。”
It won’t be known for a while whether the patter of tiny panda paws is on the way. The gestation period is from 72 to 324 days, and ultrasound scans can’t detect a cub until 14 to 17 days before birth, the zoo said.
要再过一段时间才能确定我们未来是否能听到小熊猫崽爪子的拍打声。动物园表示，熊猫的妊娠期在72至324天之间，而要到出生前14至17天，超声波扫描才能发现幼仔。
Ying Ying and Le Le, both 14 years old, had followed the classic song and dance of mating season. Ying Ying had been playing in the water more. Le Le left scent markings around his habitat and searched for Ying Ying’s scent. Typical panda courtship.
盈盈和乐乐均为14岁，他们遵循了交配季节的经典节奏。莹莹在水中玩的时间增多，乐乐在他的栖息地周围留下气味标记，并搜寻盈盈的气味。这是熊猫求偶的典型表现。
Having seen Ying Ying’s hormonal levels change, park officials said they were aware that the pandas had entered the brief window in which they might mate, and they knew Monday morning might be the peak time for action. Park staff members stood by with cameras, capturing some slightly risqué photographs during the event and a romantic-looking cuddle.
看到盈盈的荷尔蒙水平发生变化后，公园官方称他们意识到大熊猫已经进入了一个可能会交配的短暂窗口期，并且星期一早上可能是行动的高峰时间。公园工作人员守候在摄像机旁，在他们交配期间拍摄了一些略微不雅的照片，以及一个浪漫的拥抱。
The difficulties that pandas find in reproducing has contributed to the species becoming vulnerable. In 2014, the Worldwide Fund for Nature estimated that there were only 1,864 giant pandas remaining in the wild.
繁殖困难使大熊猫成为易危物种。2014年，世界自然基金会(Worldwide Fund for Nature)估计，野外大熊猫的数量仅有1864只。
Pandas have historically been so bad at mating that some zookeepers have even tried showing the animals video footage of other pandas having sex, as a sort of how-to guide.
从历史上看，熊猫非常不擅长交配，以至于一些动物园管理员甚至试图向它们展示其他熊猫性行为的录像带，以作为一种指导交配的方法。
Females are receptive and fertile for just 24 to 72 hours each year. If a male doesn’t step up then, they have to wait a full year for another chance.
雌性大熊猫每年的发情受孕期仅有24到72个小时。如果雄性熊猫不在此期间抓紧的话，就要再等整整一年才有下次机会。