纪录片《冰冻星球》 第23期 极地之春（6）（在线收听）

Year after year, the caterpillar slows down in the autumn

每逢秋天 毛虫的行动变得迟缓

and then freezes solid.

直至冻僵

But eventually, a very special spring arrives.

终于 不同寻常的春天来临了

This one will be its last.

这将是它最后一个春天

It's now 14 years old

它现在已经14岁了

the world's oldest caterpillar.

是世界上最长寿的毛虫

Its remaining days now become frantic.

接下来的日子里 它异常繁忙

It starts to weave a silk cocoon.

它开始织茧

Inside, its body is changing into one that can fly and search,

在茧里 它会转变成会飞行能觅食的蛾

abilities that will be crucial in the days ahead.

这些能力在日后非常重要

It's waited over a decade for this spring

这个春天 它已经等了十几年了

and now, its time is near.

破茧成蝶的时间越来越接近了

All across the Arctic, moths are emerging.

蛾开始在整个北极大量涌现

After completing their 14-year preparation,

经过了14年的准备

they now have just a few days to find a partner and mate.

它们现在只有几天时间找配偶交配

No life illustrates more vividly

没其他生物能更生动地展现出

the shortness of the Arctic spring

北极春天的短暂

or the struggle to survive in this most seasonal of places.

和在这季节最多变地方生存的艰辛