纪录片《南太平洋》 第36期 四海为家（04）（在线收听）

Although somewhat precariously!

这样居住或许太过冒险

Did any of these animals ever travel east to other islands?

是否有动物向东迁徒到其它岛屿仍不得而知

Around 300 species of reptile thrive within this hot house, including the ubiquitous mourning gecko.

近300种爬行动物在这里繁衍生息，包括无处不在的鳞趾壁虎

It is a highly-adaptable creature

它有着极高的生存能力

but did it have the tools, stamina and luck to survive being a castaway?

然而成功的漂流需要工具，体力还有运气

One animal certainly did. Humans.

有一种动物无疑能做到这些。那就是人类。

Despite only arriving in New Guinea 40,000 years ago,

尽管在4万年前才到达新几内亚

humans were soon established throughout the island's maze of hidden valleys.

但人类很快在这里站稳了脚跟

Today, these people are known as Papuans

这就是众所周知的巴布亚人

and together speak over 700 different languages - more than any other island on Earth.

当地流通的700多种语言令他们成为世界上拥有最多语言种类的岛民

Yet, despite their mastery of the island,

尽管巴布亚人熟识全岛

there was one creature they lived in awe of - the giant man-eating crocodile.

他们却十分敬畏岛上的一种动物，巨型食人鳄

Even today, young men must endure a brutal initiation ceremony,

即使在今天，岛内的年轻人也必须要接受野蛮的成人仪式

in the beliefe that they will acquire the strength and guile of these giant reptiles.

他们相信可以此获得这些巨型爬行动物的力量和狡诈。