Hundreds of pilot whales died this week on the beaches of the Chatham Islands, about 800 kilometers east of New Zealand.
本周，数百头领航鲸在新西兰以东约 800 公里的查塔姆群岛海滩上死亡。
It is the second large stranding of whales in recent weeks. About 200 pilot whales died in the Australian state of Tasmania in late September.
这是最近几周第二次大规模搁浅鲸鱼。9月下旬，澳大利亚塔斯马尼亚州约有200头领航鲸死亡。
New Zealand officials said the islands are home to about 600 people. Rescue groups went to help but they could not get the whales back in the water. Many of them died naturally but others were euthanized because they could not be saved. At least 477 whales are believed to have died.
新西兰官员说，这些岛屿居住着大约 600 人。救援小组前去帮忙，但他们无法将鲸鱼带回水中。其中许多鲸鱼是自然死亡，但也有一些鲸鱼因为无法挽救而被安乐死。据信至少有477头鲸鱼死亡。
New Zealand's Department of Conservation wrote about the stranded whales on Facebook.
新西兰自然保护部在 Facebook 上写了关于搁浅鲸鱼的文章。
"These events are tough, challenging situations," the department wrote. "Although they are natural occurrences, they are still sad and difficult for those helping."
“这些事件是艰难的、具有挑战性的情况，”该部门写道。“虽然它们是自然现象，但对于那些帮助的人来说，它们仍然是悲伤和困难的。”
Daren Grover works for a group called Project Jonah that works to rescue whales. He called the event a "heartbreaking" loss.
达伦·格罗弗就职于一个名为“约拿计划”的组织，该组织致力于拯救鲸鱼。他称这一事件是“令人心碎的”损失。
He said the islands' distance from New Zealand and the presence of sharks in the water made it hard to help the whales.
他说，这些岛屿离新西兰很远，而且水中有鲨鱼，因此很难帮助鲸鱼。
Dave Lundquist is an adviser for New Zealand's Department of Conservation. He said the department does not try to save whales on those islands because the sharks make it unsafe for both people and the whales.
戴夫·伦德奎斯特是新西兰自然保护部的顾问。他说，该部门没有设法拯救该群岛上的鲸鱼，因为对人类和鲸鱼来说，鲨鱼不安全。
He called euthanasia "the kindest option."
他称安乐死是“最仁慈的选择”。
Grover said the Chatham Islands are a place where whales go to find food. As the whales get closer to land, however, they can become confused.
格罗弗说查塔姆群岛是鲸鱼寻找食物的地方。然而，随着鲸鱼靠近陆地，它们可能会变得困惑。
Strandings of large groups of whales are common in the summer, scientists say.
科学家说，大群鲸鱼在夏季搁浅是很常见的。
Grover said the whales use a system called echolocation to find food and avoid barriers underwater. But as they get closer to land they can lose their place if the water level changes quickly.
格罗弗说，鲸鱼使用一种称为回声定位的系统来寻找食物并避开水下障碍物。但是当它们靠近陆地时，如果水位迅速变化，它们可能会迷失方向。
"Before they know it," Grover said, "they're stranded on the beach."
格罗弗说：“等它们反应过来时它们已经被困在海滩上了。”
Grover said the whale bodies will not be moved. They will decompose naturally.
格罗弗说鲸鱼的尸体不会被移动。它们会自然分解。
"Nature is the great recycler," he said.
“大自然是伟大的回收者。”他说。
I'm Dan Friedell.
丹·弗里德尔报道。
Hundreds of pilot whales died this week on the beaches of the Chatham Islands, about 800 kilometers east of New Zealand.
It is the second large stranding of whales in recent weeks. About 200 pilot whales died in the Australian state of Tasmania in late September.
New Zealand officials said the islands are home to about 600 people. Rescue groups went to help but they could not get the whales back in the water. Many of them died naturally but others were euthanized because they could not be saved. At least 477 whales are believed to have died.
New Zealand's Department of Conservation wrote about the stranded whales on Facebook.
"These events are tough, challenging situations," the department wrote. "Although they are natural occurrences, they are still sad and difficult for those helping."
Daren Grover works for a group called Project Jonah that works to rescue whales. He called the event a "heartbreaking" loss.
He said the islands' distance from New Zealand and the presence of sharks in the water made it hard to help the whales.
Dave Lundquist is an adviser for New Zealand's Department of Conservation. He said the department does not try to save whales on those islands because the sharks make it unsafe for both people and the whales.
He called euthanasia "the kindest option."
Grover said the Chatham Islands are a place where whales go to find food. As the whales get closer to land, however, they can become confused.
Strandings of large groups of whales are common in the summer, scientists say.
Grover said the whales use a system called echolocation to find food and avoid barriers underwater. But as they get closer to land they can lose their place if the water level changes quickly.
"Before they know it," Grover said, "they're stranded on the beach."
Grover said the whale bodies will not be moved. They will decompose naturally.
"Nature is the great recycler," he said.
I'm Dan Friedell.
Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by The Associated Press.
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Words in This Story
strand -v. to cause something that is normally in the water to be stuck on land
euthanize -v. to kill to prevent suffering
challenging -adj. something that is difficult
option -n. a possible choice
confused -adj. unable to understand a situation
decompose -n. to slowly break down into a simpler form through a natural process
recycle -v. to make something new from something that has been used or worn out
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