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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公里的查塔姆群岛的海滩上死亡。
It is the second large stranding of whales in recent weeks.
这是最近几周发生的第二起大规模鲸鱼搁浅事件。
About 200 pilot whales died in the Australian state of Tasmania in late September.
9月底，约有200头领航鲸在澳大利亚塔斯马尼亚州死亡。
New Zealand officials said the islands are home to about 600 people.
新西兰官员表示，该群岛上居住着大约600人。
Rescue groups went to help but they could not get the whales back in the water.
救援组织前去施救，但他们无法将鲸鱼放回水中。
Many of them died naturally but others were euthanized because they could not be saved.
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。
At least 477 whales are believed to have died.
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脸书上发布了有关搁浅鲸鱼的消息。
“These events are tough, challenging situations,” the department wrote.
该部门写道：“这些事件是艰难的、具有挑战性的情况。”
“Although they are natural occurrences, they are still sad and difficult for those helping.”
“虽然这是自然发生的事情，但对于那些帮助它们的人来说，他们仍然很难过，也很艰难。”
Daren Grover works for a group called Project Jonah that works to rescue whales.
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。
He called the event a “heartbreaking” loss.
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，该群岛距离新西兰很远，而且水中有鲨鱼，所以很难帮助鲸鱼。
Dave Lundquist is an adviser for New Zealand’s Department of Conservation.
戴夫·伦德奎斯特是新西兰自然保护部的顾问。
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.
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.
格罗弗说，查塔姆群岛是鲸鱼觅食的地方。
As the whales get closer to land, however, they can become confused.
然而，当鲸鱼越来越靠近陆地时，它们可能会变得困惑。
Strandings of large groups of whales are common in the summer, scientists say.
科学家表示，夏季大量鲸鱼搁浅是很常见的。
Grover said the whales use a system called echolocation to find food and avoid barriers underwater.
格罗弗说，鲸鱼使用一种叫做回声定位的系统来寻找食物并避开水下的障碍物。
But as they get closer to land they can lose their place if the water level changes quickly.
但当它们越来越靠近陆地时，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.
格罗弗说，鲸鱼的尸体不会被移动。
They will decompose naturally.
它们会自然分解。
“Nature is the great recycler,” he said.
他说：“大自然是伟大的回收者”。
I’m Dan Friedell.
丹·弗里德尔为您播报。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
