国家地理:Alligator Bites Scientist 惊悸一刻（在线收听） |
| Our next amazing rescue proves that working in an isolated and wild environment can be a risky endeavor. The llanos or wetlands of Venezuela, National Geographic's Brady Bar, a wildlife biologist is working with Venezuelan scientist and conservationist Maria Muyos. They're studying anacondas living in the wetlands at the river's edge, where they come across a caiman. This South American crocodilian is rarely a threat to humans. I've got the head, I've got its head. Right here. But get too close. It's unleashed... Wow, wow, wow, you alright? You alright? Does it get your finger? No, my, my, my hand. Shh. I'm pulling it out. Pull it out, pull it out, pull it out. You Ok? The caiman struck without warning, going from dead still to jaws' clamp shot in precisely one tenth of a second. They do not prey upon humans, but the caiman clearly saw these scientists as threatening. And when a caiman does attack, its jaws close with incredible force, 350 pounds of force. I did everything I could to pry those jaws apart and I just could not do it. Finally the caiman decided to release her hand. Without Brady's help, the outcome could have been worse, a lot worse. It was fortunate that I was on top of the animal. If it had rolled, she could have lost her hand. A caiman, like all crocodilians, attacks by grabbing its victim with sharp teeth and then it rolls to rip off a mouthful of flesh. Had this carnivorous reptile been able to roll over, Maria's hand could have been severed. This attack leaves no doubt that an animal as powerful as the caiman must be treated with the utmost respect and caution. New Words: llano: (n.) A large, grassy, almost treeless plain, especially one in Latin America. 大平原 caiman: (n.) Any of various tropical American crocodilians of the genus Caiman and related genera, resembling and closely related to the alligators. 凯门鳄 pry: (n.) To raise, move, or force open with a lever. 撬动 |
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