纪录片《我们的地球》 第273期 壮丽山脉(18)

Seldom seen, the detail of their lives has long been a mystery,

由于行踪隐蔽，雪豹的生活细节一直是个谜，

but now, at last, helped by the latest remote-camera technology,

但现在，借助最先进的远程摄像技术，

we are getting closer to them than ever before.

我们终于能够近距离观察他们。

They are very rare, only about four of them in 40 square miles.

雪豹数量稀少，百平方公里内只有四只。

There is simply not enough prey¹ to sustain more.

只是因为猎物数量不足以维系更多的生命。

They live solitary² lives.

雪豹是独居动物。

Nonetheless, they are well aware of the presence and the movements of their neighbours,

尽管如此，他们仍能很好地掌握邻居们的存在和动向，

because they leave messages in a few special places.

因为他们会在几个特殊地点给对方留下信息。

They rub particular rocks with their cheeks and then spray them with urine.

像这样用脸颊摩擦特定的岩石，再喷射上自己的尿液。

The two perfumes create a unique signature.

两种味道创造出了独一无二的签名。

Any other leopard³ can know which of its neighbours passed this way, without ever making direct contact.

尽管没有直接看到彼此，雪豹也能判断出是哪位邻居曾经到此一游。

But there are times when snow leopards⁴ must come together, and the event is often violent.

有些时候雪豹们必须聚到一起，而场面通常都很暴力。

1 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

2 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

3 leopard   

n.豹

参考例句：

• I saw a man in a leopard skin yesterday.我昨天看见一个穿着豹皮的男人。
• The leopard's skin is marked with black spots.豹皮上有黑色斑点。

4 leopards   

n.豹( leopard的名词复数 )；本性难移

参考例句：

• Lions, tigers and leopards are all cats. 狮、虎和豹都是猫科动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• For example, airlines never ship leopards and canaries on the same flight. 例如，飞机上从来不会同时运送豹和金丝雀。 来自英语晨读30分（初三）