地球脉动（2006）

对于狐狸来说 美好时光已经接近尾声
For the foxes, boom time has come to an end.
但是母亲已经给了它们一个最好的开端
But the mother has given her cubs the best possible start in life.
雪雁还将一直在苔原上吃草
The geese will continue grazing the tundra
直到夏天结束 它们才会被迫南迁过冬
until the summer ends and they're forced to head south for the winter.
在这样的高纬度 阳光的强度非常微弱
At these latitudes, the sun's rays are weak
这里的草儿只有几个月的生长♥期♥
and grass can only grow here for a few months a year.
但是在更远的南边 夏天的时间更长,草原更加茂盛
But further south, summers are longer and the grasslands flourish.
北美大草原
The prairies of North America.
这里的大草原肥沃甘美 曾经养育着地球上最大的动物群落
This rich pasture once supported the greatest herds ever seen on our planet.
这里曾有六千万只北美野牛
There were once 60 million bison,
然而没有哪种动物能够幸免于人类的大捕杀
but no animal is immune to intensive hunting by man
野牛的栖息地也惨遭破坏
or the destruction of its habitat.
一百年前 野牛的数量曾锐减至不到一千
And a century ago, the bison were reduced to barely 1,000.
如今 幸亏制定了严厉的保护 这一物种的数量才得以逐步恢复
Now, thanks to rigorous protection, the species is recovering.
这里的草儿生长♥期♥很长
The growing season is long,
能够全年维系所有的动物群落的食物需要
and the grass here can support herds all year round.
公野牛重达一吨♥
Male bison weigh in at one ton.
在盛夏 公野牛个个吃得胖乎乎的
In high summer, the bulls are fat from the rich grazing
精神焕发.然而只有为数不多的公牛会和母牛交♥配♥
and in prime condition, but only a few will mate.
到底哪些可以交♥配♥很快就要决定了
Exactly which few is about to be decided.
在世界各个温带地区的草原上 夏季都是生长繁殖期
0n temperate plains around the world, summer is a time for growth and reproduction.
此时草花争艳
Now the grass produces its flowers.
万紫千红
New colours also come to the plains.
北方的开花季节跟南半球的草原互相呼应
The northern flowering is mirrored by the grasslands of the southern hemisphere,
天下最美丽动人的草原非南非的维尔德草原莫属
and nowhere is more impressive than on the veldt of South Africa.
并非所有温带地区的草原 在夏季都是如此五彩斑斓
Not all temperate plains are so rich and colourful in the summer.
这是西♥藏♥高原的仲夏
This is midsummer on the Tibetan plateau,
世界上海拔最高的草原
the highest great plain in the world.
在这样的环境里 依然生长着漫山遍野的草 维系所有食草动物的生存需要
Despite the conditions, grass survives and in sufficient quantities to support the highest of all grazing herds,
那些是野牦牛
those of the wild yak.
即使在夏天 日子也并不好过
Even in summer, life is hard.
温度几乎总是在零下 空气又非常地稀薄
Temperatures rarely rise above freezing and the air is thin.
而且这里又干燥异常,那是因为一个很大的原因
It's also exceptionally dry for one very big reason,
喜马拉雅
the Himalayas.
雄伟的山脉犹如一道高高的屏障
The great mountain range acts as a barrier,
阻挡了从南飘来的浮云 只在大地上投下了巨大雨影
preventing clouds moving in from the south, and this casts a giant rain shadow
西♥藏♥高原由此变得异常地干燥
that leaves Tibet high and dry.
即使风把土壤中仅存的水分带走 草也能存活下来.
Grass clings to life even as desiccating winds remove what little moisture remains in the soil.
只要草能够活下来
So long as grass can survive,
食草动物也能活下来
so can grazers.
藏野驴
Wild ass.
雄驴在争夺领地 最有实力的也最有可能得到雌驴的青睐
The males are fighting to win territories. Those that hold the best are more likely to attract a herd of females.
其实是闹着玩的
It's a frisky business.
那样算是胜了
That counts as a victory,
但却没有看到雌驴的出现
but he can't assume the females will actually turn up.
雌野驴是一种神秘的动物
Female asses are mysterious creatures.
随兴而来随兴而去 对于外人来说 这些雌驴的脾性好像是不可捉摸的
They come and go as they please and much of their behaviour seems unfathomable to an outsider.
它们是高原上的伟大游牧民族
They're the great nomads of the plateau
为了寻找绿洲
and will often trek vast distances across these parched plains
其足迹早己遍布整个西♥藏♥高原
in search of oases.
当这些野驴真地找到了新的天地
But when they do find paradise,
饮水的饮水 吃草的吃草 个个毫无留恋之情
they are liable to feed and drink for just a few hours
数小时后就绝尘而去
and then head back to the dust for no apparent reason.
野驴是高原边疆上最明显的拓荒者
Wild ass are the most conspicuous pioneers of this high frontier,
但数量最为可观的食草动物却深藏在地下
but the most numerous grazer in Tibet lives underground.
鼠兔 兔子的亲戚,和兔子一样以草为食
Pika, a relative of the rabbit. It, too, feeds on grass.
在毫无遮挡的草原上
0n the exposed plateau,
鼠兔从不敢远离自己的洞穴
pikas never stray far from their burrows.
可是尽管如此 鼠兔的洞穴还是经常被其它动物霸占
But even so, squatters will move in given half a chance.
然而尽管啄地鸟和雪雀鸠占雀巢的行为确实很讨厌
While ground peckers and snow finches can be a nuisance,
它们还是值得忍♥受的 它们可以在危险来临之前给鼠兔预先的警告
they're worth tolerating because they provide a valuable early warning system.
长相怪异的藏狐 鼠兔的灾星
The bizarre Tibetan fox. The pika's nemesis.
在蹑手蹑脚地潜近猎物时,藏狐能保持特别低的姿势 可能其古怪的体型起了一定的作用
When stalking, it keeps below the skyline, perhaps helped by its curious body shape.
但是为什么是方形的头呢？
But why the square head?
在夏季
In summer,
西♥藏♥高原温度升高
the Tibetan plateau heats up,
南方的温湿空气随之而来
drawing in warm, wet air from the south.
可是雨水却从不光顾这里
But the water never arrives.
潮湿的空气上升遇到雄伟的喜马拉雅山后
As the moist air approaches, it's forced upwards by the Himalayas
便凝聚成为巨大的积雨云
and condenses into huge rain clouds.
雨全都下在喜马拉雅山南边的山峰上
These clouds drop all their water on the southern side of the mountains.
就是这些山峰的存在使得西♥藏♥变得气候干燥 也造成了季风雨只落在更远的南方
The very peaks that keep Tibet dry are responsible for the monsoon rains falling farther south
令印度的大地显得一片绿意盎然
and the greening of India.
在这里 伴着雨水的滋润,沐浴在灿烂的阳光下
Here, soaked by rain and bathed in tropical sun,
萋萋芳草生机无限
grass reaches its full potential.
象草是世界上最高的草
Elephant grass is the tallest in the world.
这种草长得比大象还高
Grass that towers over an elephant
里面可以隐藏各种各样的秘密
can conceal all sorts of surprises.
雄性孟加拉鸨
The male Lesser Florican.
在这么高的草丛里面求偶是很难得到关注的
It's hard work getting noticed when you go courting in high grass.
地处热带的印度 有着茂盛的草原
The long-grass plains of tropical India
草原上生活着世界上最大的
are home to some of the largest grass-eating mammals on our planet.
和最小的食草类哺乳动物
And some of the smallest.
姬猪的大小和兔子不相上下
Pygmy hogs are no bigger than rabbits.
这种猪是世界上最稀有的、体型最小的野猪
They're the tiniest and rarest of all wild pigs.
这只母猪正忙着把草收集起来
The female is busy collecting grass,
不过这不是为了填饱肚子
but not for eating.
而是为了筑巢
She's building a nest.
每一只小猪都小得可以放在手掌心上
Each piglet may be small enough to fit in the palm of a hand,
但母猪确生了有10只小猪
but she does have 10.
这里让我们见识到了如果有足够的阳光和雨水 草能够长到什么程度
This is how grass can grow, given unlimited sunshine and water.
然而地球上的绝大多数热带草原 在经历雨季后总是要经历旱季的
But on most tropical plains across our planet, the wet season is followed by a dry one.
在非洲的稀树大草原上
0n the African savannahs,
食草动物正浩浩荡荡地行进着 去寻找草和水
grazers are marching in search of grass and water.
由于缺乏雨水 这里的草原变成了黄尘地带
Without rain, these plains can become dust bowls.
草现在也许会被连根拔起
Grass can now lose its hold.
大象的生命变得岌岌可危 因为它们几乎每天都要喝水
Elephants are in immediate danger. They must drink almost daily.
在干渴的驱使下
Driven on by thirst,
它们在干涸的平原上跋涉几百英里
they march hundreds of miles across the parched plains.
领头的老雌象 凭着记忆 带领全家大小去寻找以前救过它们的水坑
Relying on memory, the matriarchs lead their families to those special water holes that saved them in previous years.
这个还有水
This one still has water,
可大象必须和其它照样渴得要命的动物
but they must share what remains
分享所剩无几的资源
with desperately thirsty animals of all kinds.
这时候正是紧张时刻
These are tense times.
大象在这些水坑的控制权上占主导地位 但随着夜幕降临力量的对比将发生变化
The elephants dominate the water hole, but as night falls the balance of power will shift.
口干舌焦的动物趁着夜色纷至沓来
Thirsty herds continue to arrive throughout the night.
夜间行路比较凉爽
It's a cooler time to travel.
在黑暗之中 局势发生了变化
In the darkness, the tables turn.
大象的夜视能力只比人类稍好一点
The elephant's night vision is little better than our own.
而狮子有着更加锐利的视力
But lions have much more sensitive eyes.
狮子十分饥饿 大象好像也感觉到了危机
The cats are hungry and the elephants seem to sense it.
狮子通常不会把大象当作捕杀对象
Lions don't usually hunt elephants,
但到了走投无路之时也会铤而走险
but desperate times require desperate measures.
这一象群里有更容易下手的幼象
This herd contains calves, easier targets.
但是怎样才能接近呢？
But how to reach them?
成年象已经围成圈在保护小象
The adults encircle their young.
这堵灰色皮墙围得非常坚固 很难突破
It's an impenetrable wall of grey.
还有一些筋疲力竭的落伍的大象赶了过来
A few exhausted stragglers are still arriving.
其中一头落单了
0ne of them is alone.
但是由于它的体型太大了 狮子对付不了
But it's too big for the lions to tackle.
这头看起来小一点
This one looks a little smaller.
一只单枪匹马的狮子是根本没有办法的
A solitary lion stands no chance,
但是现在整个狮群都已倾巢出动
but the whole pride is here.
它们有三十只之多 如此的数量就变成了捕杀大象的专家
There are 30 of them and they are specialist elephant hunters.
这头大象足以供整群狮子至少吃一周
This elephant will feed the whole pride for at least a week.
大象知道这里的水坑很危险
Elephants know these drinking holes are dangerous,
但没有办法
but they have no choice.
刚刚播放的残酷的画面提醒着我们 水对于草原上的生命是何等重要啊
The dramas that play out here are a savage reminder of how important water is for all life on these plains.
旱季接近尾声
As the dry season finally draws to a close,
经受了太阳烘烤的非洲稀树大草原 发生了天翻地覆的变化
Africa's baked savannahs undergo a radical change.