VOA常速英语2007年-Flamingo Meat Being Sold Illegally in Mubai Mar

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
15 December 2007

Indian police say they have apprehended¹ two men caught on videotape shooting flamingos³ near Mumbai. VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi that flamingo² meat is selling cheaper than chicken in Mumbai markets. 

Birdwatchers had gone to the marshy⁴ mudflats near the port of Mumbai to videotape flamingos migrating for the winter.  They were horrified⁵ when they saw two men armed with an air gun bringing down the birds.

The wildlife enthusiasts⁶ caught the act on tape, and turned the evidence over to police, who say they tracked the hunters down.

Media reports say flamingo meat is on sale in Mumbai markets, and is a bargain compared to chicken.

That perplexes ecologist and field scientist J.K. Tiwari, who runs the Center for Desert and Ocean in the state of Gujarat, home to huge flocks of flamingos.  He questions why anyone would want to buy the meat of these birds, let alone eat it.

"One bird will never have more than one kilo of meat, even," said Tiwari. "They are just not a bulky bird. As a rule, all fish-eating or carnivore birds, the flesh of these birds is stinky. It never tastes good."

Flamingo is eaten in the Caribbean, and boiled flamingo was reported to be a delicacy⁷ of the ancient Roman aristocracy.  It is not, however, a traditional part of the Indian diet. 

Nonetheless, in Mumbai, an unblemished flamingo killed by air gun is reportedly fetching up to $12.

The two poachers were arraigned⁸ in court Thursday on charges of violating India's national wildlife protection act. They face a maximum of three years in prison.

1 apprehended   

逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解

参考例句：

• She apprehended the complicated law very quickly. 她很快理解了复杂的法律。
• The police apprehended the criminal. 警察逮捕了罪犯。

2 flamingo   

n.红鹳，火烈鸟

参考例句：

• This is the only species of flamingo in the region,easily recognized by its pink plumage.这是那个地区唯一一种火烈鸟，很容易凭粉红色的羽毛辨认出来。
• In my family,I am flamingo in the flock of pigeons.在家里，我就像一只被困在鸽笼里的火烈鸟。

3 flamingos   

n.红鹳，火烈鸟（羽毛粉红、长颈的大涉禽）( flamingo的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Flamingos stand in a salt lake in Larnaca, Cyprus. 塞浦路斯的拉纳卡市一个盐湖中的火烈鸟。 来自互联网
• The research started researchers studied greater flamingos and in a bird sanctuary in southern Spain. 研究人员在西班牙南部的一个鸟类保护区对大型火烈鸟进行研究。 来自互联网

4 marshy   

adj.沼泽的

参考例句：

• In August 1935,we began our march across the marshy grassland. 1935年8月，我们开始过草地。
• The surrounding land is low and marshy. 周围的地低洼而多沼泽。

5 horrified   

a.(表现出)恐惧的

参考例句：

• The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
• We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。

6 enthusiasts   

n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A group of enthusiasts have undertaken the reconstruction of a steam locomotive. 一群火车迷已担负起重造蒸汽机车的任务。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Now a group of enthusiasts are going to have the plane restored. 一群热心人计划修复这架飞机。 来自新概念英语第二册

7 delicacy   

n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴

参考例句：

• We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
• He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。

8 arraigned   

v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；传讯；指责

参考例句：

• He was arraigned for murder. 他因谋杀罪而被提讯。
• She was arraigned for high treason. 她被控叛国罪。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》