THIS IS AMERICA - National Zoo / Wild Animal Care in U.S.

THIS IS AMERICA - National Zoo / Wild Animal Care in U.S.
By Jerilyn Watson

Broadcast: Monday, February 28, 2005

February 28, 2005

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English. I'm Faith Lapidus.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Steve Ember. The third Monday in February is a national holiday, Presidents' Day. That means most children get the day off from school. And that means last Monday a lot of parents probably heard this question:

VOICE ONE:

"Can we go to the zoo? Huh, can we? Can we please?!"

VOICE TWO:

Well, today WE go to the zoo, the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., for a look at the subject of wild-animal care in the United States.

VOICE ONE:

The population at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in the nation's capital has grown recently. Four baby cheetahs² are among the newcomers. Cheetahs are big African cats known for their speed. They have yellow fur and dark spots.

These are the first cheetahs born in the one-hundred-fifteen-year history of the National Zoo. A four-year-old cheetah¹ named Tumai gave birth to the cubs³ on November twenty-third. Their father, Amadi, died in December from kidney disease.

VOICE TWO:

The baby cheetahs are two males and two females. Each weighed less than two kilograms at birth. Their caretakers needed a way to be sure which cheetah is which. So they cut a small amount of fur from a different place on each one.

The young cheetahs have begun eating meat. But they are also still nursing from their mother.

When they are big enough, the cheetahs will join other big cats in the African Savanna⁴ at the National Zoo. The savanna is a grassy⁵ area designed to copy conditions in the wild.

VOICE ONE:

 
Sumatran tiger cubs Photo: US National Zoo
Three Sumatran tigers were born at the zoo in May of two thousand four. These three males now weigh about forty-five kilograms each.

Another young animal growing quickly at the National Zoo is a male elephant named Kandula. He weighed about one hundred forty-seven kilograms at birth.

 
US National Zoo photo
His mother is Shanthi. Shanthi is among the last zoo elephants born in the wild. The children of Sri Lanka gave her to the National Zoo as a gift almost thirty years ago.

Kandula is a little more than three years old. He was born in November of two thousand one.

VOICE TWO:

Many people come to the National Zoo to see Kandula. Crowds also gather to see the two giant pandas from China. Tian Tian is the male and Mei Xiang is the female.

These big, furry⁶ black-and-white creatures roll around in the grass. They play. They climb trees. They eat bamboo. All they watch the people watching them.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

The zoo is paying to have the pandas on loan from China for ten years. They arrived in two thousand to replace two pandas that died.

 
Pandas Tian Tian and Mei Xiang at the National Zoo US National zoo photo 
Giant pandas come from the mountains of central China. They are very rare. A number of pandas have been born in China recently. If Tian Tian and Mei Xiang have a baby, it would also be an important addition.

VOICE TWO:

The National Zoo has about three thousand animals. They represent more than four hundred species. They live on sixty-six hectares of land in Washington, D.C.

People do not have to pay to enter the National Zoo. Most of its money is from the federal government. Supporters known as "Friends of the National Zoo" also give money.

Congress created the zoo in eighteen eighty-nine. The National Zoo is part of the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian operates a large system of museums.

VOICE ONE:

Millions of people visit the National Zoo in Washington. Over the years, it has been praised as one of the best in the United States.

But in two thousand three, Congress ordered an investigation⁷ of the zoo after several animals died. An independent committee from the National Academy of Sciences examined records at the zoo. The committee reported that most of the animals whose records it studied received satisfactory care.

However, the committee also said that the zoo must improve its training of employees. In addition, it reported that aging equipment and structures must be repaired or replaced.

Zoo director Lucy Spelman resigned in February of two thousand four.

Last month, a report from the National Research Council noted⁸ some improvements at the National Zoo over the last year. But it said more work is needed.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

America's first zoo opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in eighteen fifty-nine. Each year about fifty million people visit zoos in the United States.

In the past, zoos kept animals in small cages. There was nothing but the animal, its food and its waste.

The Bronx Zoo in New York City led the way to better conditions. It designed exhibits to provide more freedom. The idea to create settings more like nature spread to other zoos.

VOICE ONE:

One of the leading American zoos is in San Diego, California. The San Diego Zoological Society operates the zoo. It also operates the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

More than two thousand animals live on about eight hundred hectares at the Wild Animal Park. Visitors learn about efforts to save and protect rare animals like the California condor⁹. This bird measures three meters across with its wings spread.

In nineteen eighty-seven, researchers captured the last known California condors¹⁰ in the wild to put them into breeding programs. Today the population of California condors has grown to two hundred forty-five. That was the number as of last month. The San Diego Wild Animal Park raised almost half of them.

Many of the condors have been released into the wild. They live not just in California but also in parts of Arizona and Mexico.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Some people believe it is cruel to keep animals in zoos. They say most of the animals in zoos are not endangered. So they question the need for programs to breed these animals in captivity¹¹. Critics argue that animals can suffer in zoos.

And, in some cases, zoos agree. A number of American zoos have stopped showing elephants. These huge animals need lots of space, a mild climate and other elephants to live with.

VOICE ONE:

Wanda and Winky are two Asian elephants that have lived for years at the Detroit Zoo in Michigan. Wanda is about forty-five years old. She has arthritis¹². Her joints¹³ hurt when she moves. Winky is over fifty. She has foot problems.

The zoo director, Ron Kagan, decided¹⁴ that half a hectare of living space was much too small for them. He also decided that winters in Detroit are too cold for elephants. So zoo officials prepared to move Wanda and Winky to a wild animal refuge in California.

VOICE TWO:

But problems developed with that plan. The American Zoo and Aquarium¹⁵ Association said the elephants would have go to the zoo in Columbus, Ohio. There would be less distance to travel. And the group said Wanda and Winky would receive excellent care at one of the largest elephant exhibits of any American zoo.

But people in Detroit who care about Wanda and Winky protested. They argued that Columbus also has cold winters and that space at the zoo was also limited.

In the end, an examination of Wanda settled the issue. Doctors found a virus. This virus does not harm Wanda, but it could have killed young elephants at the Columbus Zoo. So officials there said no to the move.

VOICE ONE:

Now the American Zoo and Aquarium Association says Wanda and Winky can move to California, as soon as the weather permits. Their retirement¹⁶ home will be a refuge east of San Francisco. The Performing Animal Welfare Society has more than forty hectares of land for elephants to do whatever they like to do.

So it appears that the story of Wanda and Winky will have a happy ending, after all.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Our program was written by Jerilyn Watson and produced by Caty Weaver¹⁷. I'm Steve Ember.

VOICE ONE:

And I'm Faith Lapidus. Join us again next week for THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English.

1 cheetah   

n.(动物)猎豹

参考例句：

• The cheetah is generally credited as the world's fastest animal.猎豹被公认是世界上跑得最快的动物。
• The distribution of the cheetah ranges from Africa to Central Asia.印度豹的足迹遍及从非洲到中亚的广大地区。

2 cheetahs   

n.（奔跑极快的）非洲猎豹( cheetah的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Unlike lions or cheetahs, leopards are secretive, solitary cats. 花豹不像狮子或印度豹，是属于较神秘而隐居的大猫。 来自互联网
• Among this lot are cheetahs, lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, spotted hyenas and elephants. 印度豹、狮子、花豹、犀牛、斑点土狼、大象等，都是此地的居民。 来自互联网

3 cubs   

n.幼小的兽，不懂规矩的年轻人( cub的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lioness guarding her cubs 守护幼崽的母狮
• Lion cubs depend on their mother to feed them. 狮子的幼仔依靠母狮喂养。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 savanna   

n.大草原

参考例句：

• The savanna is also the home of meat-eaters--the lion,leopard,and hyena who feed on the grasseaters.大草原也是食肉动物的家乡--狮子、豹、鬣狗--它们都是以草食动物维持生命的。
• They sped upon velvet wheels across an exhilarant savanna.他们的马车轻捷地穿过一片令人赏心悦目的大草原。

5 grassy   

adj.盖满草的；长满草的

参考例句：

• They sat and had their lunch on a grassy hillside.他们坐在长满草的山坡上吃午饭。
• Cattle move freely across the grassy plain.牛群自由自在地走过草原。

6 furry   

adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的

参考例句：

• This furry material will make a warm coat for the winter.这件毛皮料在冬天会是一件保暖的大衣。
• Mugsy is a big furry brown dog,who wiggles when she is happy.马格斯是一只棕色大长毛狗，当她高兴得时候她会摇尾巴。

7 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 condor   

n.秃鹰；秃鹰金币

参考例句：

• The condor soars above the mountain heights.禿鹰翱翔于高山之上。
• A condor prepares to fly in Colombia.一只兀鹰在哥伦比亚准备振翅高飞。

10 condors   

n.神鹰( condor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• What would our condors feed on if no one was in danger? 你不发生危险，那我们秃鹰吃啥呢？ 来自互联网
• Yo mama so fat she has been declared a natural habitat for Condors. Yomama是如此之肥，她被定为秃鹰的自然栖息地。 来自互联网

11 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

12 arthritis   

n.关节炎

参考例句：

• Rheumatoid arthritis has also been linked with the virus.风湿性关节炎也与这种病毒有关。
• He spent three months in the hospital with acute rheumatic arthritis.他患急性风湿性关节炎，在医院住了三个月。

13 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。

14 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

15 aquarium   

n.水族馆，养鱼池，玻璃缸

参考例句：

• The first time I saw seals was in an aquarium.我第一次看见海豹是在水族馆里。
• I'm going to the aquarium with my parents this Sunday.这个星期天，我要和父母一起到水族馆去。

16 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

17 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。