冰冻星球（2011）

冰冻星球
第四集
北极的盛夏接近尾声
The end of the Arctic summer,
三个月以来 太阳未曾落下
and the sun hasn't set for three months.
难以想象的是 严寒将很快再次袭来
It's hard to imagine the bitter cold will soon return.
某些动物会泰然接受秋季的萧索
Some will welcome the chills of autumn,
而对于大多数而言
but for most,
被迫向南迁徙的日子
time is running out before they will
正在一步步逼近
have to retreat to the south.
秋
时值加拿大极地的初秋
Early autumn in the Canadian Arctic,
北极熊正聚集在海岸地带
and polar bears are gathering on the coastal strip,
等待着海面冰封
waiting for the sea to freeze.
但它们向来特立独行
But a life spent alone on the sea ice
无法适应海滩的拥挤
is no preparation for a crowded beach.
与同类的近距离接触会使它们神经紧绷
Such close contact with other bears must be stressful.
恼羞成怒在所难免
Surely tempers will flare.
超过半吨♥的公熊猛扑向对方
Over half a tonne of bear slams into the other.
北极熊通常会为了争夺配偶而一决死战
Polar bears will fight to the death over mates,
但秋季是个例外
but not in autumn.
此时 这些令人生畏的捕食者们
Now these fearsome predators display
展现出了本性中难得的容忍♥
a surprisingly tolerant side to their natures.
被围困在陆地上
Being marooned on land means the bears
意味着它们无法捕食到海豹
no longer have access to the seals they usually hunt
只能随便找些食物来填饱肚皮
and they have to scrape by on whatever they can find.
像普通的熊类一样 它们并不挑食
Like bears the world over, they're not choosy feeders.
甚至开始食草维生
They even turn vegetarian,
小心翼翼地从棘刺中挑出浆果
delicately picking out berries from between the thorns.
果子遍地都是
There are plenty to go around
所以没必要争抢
so there's no need to squabble over them.
打斗也只是为了取乐
Any fighting is just for fun.
公熊会选择与自己实力相当的对手
The bears select sparring partners who are well-matched
而且总是故意放水
and they always pull their punches,
因为谁都不想在友谊赛中受伤
no-one wants to get hurt in a play-fight.
也许这几个回合的较量是为了试探对手
Perhaps these bouts are a way of testing rivals
以防日后在冰面上会狭路相逢
in case they ever meet again out on the sea ice.
而毋庸置疑的是
One thing's for sure,
这群独行侠们
the famous loners
正流露出合群活泼的一面
are revealing a social, playful side
实属罕见
we rarely see.
虽说这只是嬉闹
It's all just boisterous fun,
但如此健硕的公熊毕竟危险
but with so many big males around,
母熊便带幼熊们远离这片是非之地
the females keep their cubs at a safe distance.
谨慎的熊妈妈会领着孩子们
The wary mother will lead her young
沿着海岸 前往一片更清静的沙滩
to a quieter beach along the coast
等待海面结冰
while she waits for the ocean to freeze.
目前 海冰的面♥积♥为最小值
The sea ice is now at its minimum extent.
在加拿大极地
In the Canadian Arctic,
绵延不绝的海岸线解除了冰封
vast stretches of coastline are now unlocked
对拜访者敞开了怀抱
and ready to receive visitors.
白鲸 即北极的白色鲸鱼
Belugas - the white whales of the North.
它们徜徉在无冰海域
They're relying on open water
前去参加既定的约会
to reach an ancient rendezvous.
这是它们一年一度的旅程
It's a journey they make every year
其路线恒久不变
along traditional routes.
幼鲸骑在母鲸背上
Baby belugas ride piggy-back,
借助母亲造成的水流前行
pulled along by their mother's slip stream.
这只仅有一个月大
This one is only a month old,
要再过五年才会变成白色
and won't turn white for another five years.
上千条白鲸正游往加拿大极地
Thousands of belugas are being drawn to one special estuary
一处特殊的河口
in the Canadian Arctic.
它们并非为了觅食而来
It isn't food that brings them here.
原因说来奇怪 是为了个人卫生
Curiously, it's personal hygiene.
退潮时 它们便游入浅水
When the tide is low they swim into the shallows
激烈地扭动翻滚
and flail around with great enthusiasm.
这么做是为了刷洗身体
They're after a body scrub.
沙砾相当于丝瓜络
The gravel acts as a loofah
在其间辗转反侧
and thrashing their bodies across it
有助于褪掉旧皮
helps to get rid of their old skin.
想必这不仅会使它们身体洁净 线条优美
Presumably the treatment keeps them clean and streamlined,
还会带来快♥感♥
but it also appears to feel good.
好福气啊
Bliss!
相比之下 河口的水温度高 盐分少
The water in the estuary is warmer and less salty
这似乎有助于软化皮肤
and that seems to soften the skin
提高清洁效率
making the scrub more effective.
这处隐秘的河口
This secluded estuary
只是白鲸临时的温泉疗养地
is only a temporary whale spa,
海洋会很快再次冻结
the ocean will soon freeze again
迫使鲸鱼们南迁
forcing the whales to travel south.
庞大的海鸟群是北极的瑰宝
Vast seabird colonies are the jewels of the Arctic.
夏季的几个月里 海鸠
Brunnich's guillemots have spent the summer months
聚集在陡峭的悬崖之上
packed together on vertical cliffs
远离捕食者的魔爪
beyond the reach of predators.
它们是北半球
They are among the most
数量最多的海鸟之一
numerous seabirds in the Northern hemisphere.
单是这个鸟群 就有十万只
This colony alone contains 100,000 birds
而沿北极海岸 类似的鸟群更是不计其数
and there are many more like it all along the Arctic coastline.
再过几周 这几片悬崖将空空如也
In just a few weeks these cliffs will empty.
但在幼雏羽翼丰满之前
But before the guillemots can leave,
海鸠还不能动身
their chicks must fledge.
它们的羽毛已经长成
Their feathers are now fully formed,
但翅膀还过于粗短
but their stubby wings are still too short for them
无法自在飞翔
to fly properly -
这是个挑战
this will be a challenge.
这一跳就是一百五十米
It's a 150 metre drop and
还得一路跳到海里
they need to make it all the way to the sea.
起跳
Here goes.
他没跳到终点 不过也活着着陆了
He falls short and survives the crash landing.
对北极狐来说雏鸟可是天赐的佳肴
The chicks are manna from heaven for an Arctic fox.
后面一只雏鸟有父母陪伴
The next chick is accompanied by a parent.
又失败了
Failed again.
这跳得好多了
This looks better!
成功
Success!
水上着陆看起来轻盈多了
Aquatic landings are certainly gentler
狐狸也抓不到你
and foxes can't reach you out here.
雏鸟还得跟着父母一个月
The chicks will stay in their parents' care for another month.
海鸠不是唯一准备离开的旅行者
The guillemots are not the only ones preparing to leave,
整个北极区 上百万的夏日游客
all across the Arctic millions of summer visitors
都准备启程回南方
are beginning to return south.
海鸠的雏鸟还不会飞
The guillemot chicks can't fly yet,
所以它们和家人
so they and their families
游去过冬的地方
must swim to their winter feeding grounds.
一路向南 跨越上千公里
It's a journey that will take them a thousand miles south
去寻找开阔的海洋 远离逼近的寒冰
to the open ocean and away from the approaching ice.
繁殖的季节已经结束 北极又重归宁静
The breeding season is over and silence returns to the Arctic.
但当秋季的第一波风暴
But as the first storms of autumn
席卷这片荒芜的筑巢区时
sweep through the deserted nesting grounds,
给为数不多的留守者带来意想不到的好运
they bring an unexpected bonanza for the few that remain.
这个秘密很快就传播开来
The discovery doesn't remain secret for long.
这是一头巨大的长须鲸的尸体
It's a huge fin whale carcass.
北极熊的鼻子特别灵敏
The polar bears have been drawn from several miles away,
从几公里外追寻而至
guided by their extraordinary sense of smell.
北极熊不断涌来
Bears are arriving all the time,
但这头十八米长的食物有足够的空间
but there's plenty of room at this 18 metre long dining table.
它们很少这么轻松和谐
They're surprisingly relaxed,
因为食物充足 所以无须争斗
but with enough for everyone there's no need to argue.
最美味的肉是泡在水下的部分
The tastiest morsels are often underwater.
有些吃货喜欢加点海草做配菜
Others prefer some greens with their dinner.
一顿平衡膳食后
After a well-balanced meal,
最享受的莫过于跟同伴玩一玩了
there's nothing better than some good company.
北极熊向来是独来独往的
Despite their reputation as loners,
如此和睦的一幕让人甚是惊喜