国家地理-2008-09-13 小鲸鱼错认游艇为母

Animal Conservationists in Australia expressed concern on Tuesday that a lost humpback whale calf¹ separated from its mother could die within days, unless it finds its own mother or another mother to adopt it. The calf believed to be one or two months old was first sighted on Sunday in waters off north Sydney. It’s been attempting to suckle from various yachts in the harbor since Monday.  

 “Um I think that its mother has rejected it and its , and the mother’s moved on.”

 Other experts suggest its mother may have died and the calf may be an orphan².

 According to Mackintosh, rescuers towed one yacht out to sea and the calf finally detached from the boat, but it returned to an inlet near Sydney on Tuesday morning.

 “It’s, it’s moved back in here. Um…it’s still showing a suckling habit. It’s quietly going around from boat to boat, which confirms that it is a young calf and probably still was suckling and relying on its mother.”

 Officials said hand feeding would be impossible and they believed the calf’s only chance was to find another female whale to accept it.

 “The calf really needs its mum’s milk. It’s a desperate situation for that young calf without its mother’s milk.” 

 Conservationist: someone who works to protect animals, plants etc or to protect old buildings

Humpback whale: 座头鲸, 一种（座头鲸属 座头鲸） 有圆背和长而多节的鳍状肢的须鲸

Be detached from: be separated from

Inlet: a narrow area of water that reaches from the sea or a lake into the land

1 calf   

n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮

参考例句：

• The cow slinked its calf.那头母牛早产了一头小牛犊。
• The calf blared for its mother.牛犊哞哞地高声叫喊找妈妈。

2 orphan   

n.孤儿；adj.无父母的

参考例句：

• He brought up the orphan and passed onto him his knowledge of medicine.他把一个孤儿养大，并且把自己的医术传给了他。
• The orphan had been reared in a convent by some good sisters.这个孤儿在一所修道院里被几个好心的修女带大。