纪录片《美丽中国》 第61期 沃土中原（4）（在线收听）

The panda has long been known in China

中国人认识熊猫已经很久了

It was mentioned in dictionaries more than 2,000 years ago

两千多年前的字典上边就提到过熊猫

and the imperial garden is said to have housed one

据说御花园还曾经养过熊猫

In the dense bamboo of the forest

在茂密的竹林里

one panda rarely sees another

熊猫很少见到同类

Instead, they communicate by subtle scent signals

所以,它们通过特殊的气味联系

At 1.5m long and 135 kilos, the giant panda

熊猫身长1.5米,体重135千克

is a member of the bear family

熊猫属于熊科

But its bear-like digest system

但是那是这种分类方法

is built for eating meat, not this tough fibrous stuff

是按照食肉方法分的,不是按吃韧性纤维分的

And to make matters worse

更糟的是

the bamboo leaves are frozen solid

竹叶冻住了

But the panda has devised a cunning way

但是熊猫发明了一个巧妙的方法

of breaking the ice off

来把冰弄掉

It rubs the bamboo over its snout

它用鼻子把冰蹭掉

Unlike other bears

不像其他熊类

the panda can't fatten itself up and hibernate

熊猫不能通过冬眠

through the winter

来度过冬天

Bamboo is so low in energy

竹子的能量很低

that the panda must spend most of the day eating

熊猫不得不把大量时间放在吃上

Once it has exhausted one area

一旦一个地方的竹子吃完了

it must move on to the next

熊猫必须继续前进到另一个地方

The panda's paw is surprisingly unbearlike too

熊猫的爪子也与熊爪有很大的不同

It's flexible

熊猫的爪子很灵活

with an enlarged wrist bone which allows it to grasp

熊猫腕骨很大,能准确地抓住

but maneuver the bamboo with dexterity and precision

并灵活地控制竹子

that a monkey would be proud of

令猴子都羡慕

Twisting the bamboo leaves into a cigar shape

把竹叶弄成雪茄形状

makes them easier to munch

便于它们咀嚼