NBC晚间新闻 疫情下的动物园现状（在线收听）

In what would normally be one of the busiest weeks at Missouri's Dickerson Zoo. As you look around and nobody's here, it's heartbreaking. Nobody here to see the handful of selfless zookeepers who come every day to make sure the animals get food in critical care. We're gonna get through this, it's going to end and we're still going to be here. It's the same at the Columbus Zoo where workers now do their jobs completely isolated. No two allowed in the same room. It means everything to come in and see this team pull together and really put themselves at risk to come in every day.

Keepers at hundreds of zoos and aquariums across the country who say there's no other choice. Even in New York where the infection rate continues to skyrocket, essential personnel are putting aside their own fears to show up every day at the Bronx Zoo. They are putting themselves in a bit of a vulnerable position but they have to because they feel that responsibility to the animals. And while Americans are being told to socially distance for many animals connection is critical. Back in Missouri the zoo animals now have pen pals. It says dear alpacas I love you guys so much. Kids writing letters the staff can read to the animals. Dear sloth. The love not lost because of a little social distance.

密苏里州迪克森动物园在往年的这些日子是最繁忙的。看看周围，根本没人。这让人心碎。没人看到每天来这里的少数无私的动物管理员，他们确保动物在急救护理下得到食物。我们会挺过去的，它会结束的，我们还会在这里。在哥伦布动物园也是如此，工作人员在完全隔离的情况下做他们的工作。不允许两个人处在同一个房间。团队来到动物园工作，大家齐心协力。他们每天都将自己置于险境中，这意味着一切。全国数百家动物园和水族馆的饲养员表示，他们别无选择。即使在感染率持续飙升的纽约，必要的工作人员也把他们的恐惧放在一边，每天前往布朗克斯动物园。他们把自己放在一个脆弱的位置，但他们必须这样做，因为他们觉得对动物有责任。尽管美国人被告知要保持社交距离，但是对很多动物来说，连接是很重要的。在密苏里州动物园，动物们现在有笔友了。亲爱的羊驼，我爱你们。孩子们给动物写信，工作人员可以读给动物听。亲爱的树懒。爱没有因为一点社交距离而消失。