纪录片《南太平洋》 第146期 奇异岛屿（22）

Rats travelled with people to every corner of the Pacific.

老鼠在太平洋每个角落都与人作伴

On Easter Island, their impact may have been catastrophic.

在复活节岛 它们的影响也许是灾难性的

Multiplying to plague proportions,

染疫比例大为增加

they would have devoured¹ the wild fruits, the seabirds, even the nuts of the giant palms,

它们吃光了野生的果实 海鸟 甚至棕榈树的果实

so that the trees may have stopped reproducing long before the last one was felled.

所以树木也停止了繁殖 在最后一颗树倒下之前

Perhaps the fate of Easter Island was not sealed by the human who felled that last tree,

或许复活节岛的命运是砍倒最后一颗树的人未曾料想的

but by the rat that ate the last palm nut.

但是老鼠吃掉了最后一颗棕榈树的果实

Other South Pacific islands have also seen civilisations rise and fall,

其它南太平洋岛屿同样 看到文明的升起与陨落

though none have left such dramatic reminders² of their passing as the giant statues of the Rapa Nui.

虽然没有留下什么象拉帕奴伊的巨大塑像那么让人印象深刻的回忆

Now re-erected, they've come to symbolise how precarious³ life can be on an isolated⁴ island.

如今的重新竖立 它们作为在一座与世隔绝的孤岛上 生命是多么的变幻无常的象征

For this island has not been abandoned.

这座孤岛并没有被放弃

A few Rapa Nui survived, and now they're thriving once more, entertaining visitors from the outside world.

有几个拉帕奴伊人幸存下来 如今他们又再次兴盛 招待来自外面世界的游客

Trees have been planted, though it's too late for the unique creatures that once lived here.

栽种了树木 尽管对于曾经生活在这里的 珍稀动物来说有点太晚了

Elsewhere, on islands throughout the Pacific, there is still time.

遍及太平洋各处的其它岛屿仍有时间

People are working hard to remove the creatures that don't belong here

人们努力移走不属于本地的动物

and make space once again for the curiosities, from kagus to kakapo,

再次为那些珍稀物种腾出空间 从鹭鹤到鸮鹉

that make the South Pacific such a uniquely wonderful world.

南太平洋是如此独特而精彩的世界

1 devoured   

吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光

参考例句：

• She devoured everything she could lay her hands on: books, magazines and newspapers. 无论是书、杂志，还是报纸，只要能弄得到，她都看得津津有味。
• The lions devoured a zebra in a short time. 狮子一会儿就吃掉了一匹斑马。

2 reminders   

n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。

3 precarious   

adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的

参考例句：

• Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
• He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家，他过得是朝不保夕的生活。

4 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。