流行病迫使加拿大將大熊貓送回中國

流行病迫使加拿大將大熊貓送回中國

If there's one thing giant pandas can't live without, it's bamboo. These burly bears munch through anywhere from 20 to 40 pounds of it a day, with some scarfing down 80 pounds in that window. And in the wild, giant pandas spend at least half of every day looking for bamboo. In fact, it's so important to pandas, it may even influence the iconic markings on their coat.

如果有一樣東西是大熊貓離不開的，那就是竹子。這些強壯的熊貓每天要吃20到40磅，有些會在窗戶上吃80磅。在野外，大熊貓每天至少花一半的時間尋找竹子。事實上，這對熊貓來說非常重要，甚至可能會影響到它們皮毛上的標志性標記。

Before coming to the Calgary Zoo, Er Shun (pictured here) and Da Mao were the pandas-in-residence at the Toronto Zoo. (Photo: Reimar/Shutterstock.com)

So what happens when you have two giant pandas and run out of bamboo in the middle of a pandemic?

那么，如果你有兩只大熊貓，在大流行期間竹子用完了怎么辦?

Unfortunately, for one Canadian zoo, it means a sad return to sender. The Calgary Zoo has announced that the giant pandas in its care — Er Shun and Da Mao — are heading back to China.

不幸的是，對于一個加拿大動物園來說，這意味著對寄件人的悲哀的回報?？柤永飫游飯@宣布，它所照顧的大熊貓——二順和大毛——將返回中國。

The bears had been on loan to Canadian zoos since 2013, as part of a 10-year pact. But with much of the world locked down and flights canceled amid the COVID-19 outbreak, bamboo has become increasingly hard to come by in Canada.

自2013年起，這兩只熊就被租借到加拿大動物園，作為為期10年的協(xié)議的一部分。但是，由于新冠肺炎疫情爆發(fā)，世界大部分地區(qū)都被封鎖，航班被取消，加拿大的竹子越來越難買到。

Up until now, the zoo has been getting it shipped fresh directly from China, an option that's no longer available during these viral times.

到目前為止，動物園一直從中國直接運送新鮮大熊貓，但在病毒肆虐的時代，這種做法已經(jīng)行不通了。

How to feed a panda

如何喂熊貓

Strangely enough, bamboo doesn't pack much in the way of nutrients. High in indigestible fiber and low in protein. To complicate things, unlike most herbivores, pandas don't have a long digestive tract to break down plants. Nor do they have the four-chambered stomach of a cow. Instead, pandas are built like meat-eaters — just a simple stomach and a short digestive tract.

奇怪的是，竹子的營養(yǎng)成分含量并不高。纖維不易消化，蛋白質含量低。更復雜的是，與大多數(shù)食草動物不同，大熊貓沒有長時間的消化道來分解植物。他們也沒有牛的四腔胃。相反，熊貓是食肉動物——只有一個簡單的胃和一個短的消化道。

So how do they thrive on a strictly bamboo diet?

那么，它們是如何在嚴格的竹子飲食中茁壯成長的呢?

Giant panda Bei Bei eats bamboo at Smithsonian's National Zoo. (Photo: JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Research suggests it's all about the three most basic nutritional building blocks for mammals: nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium. In China, where giant pandas live — and where they're currently considered a vulnerable species — different kinds of bamboo provide different nutrients. Pandas get their nitrogen and phosphorus by consuming young wood bamboo shoots. When they're low on calcium, they forage for arrow bamboo shoots, which are rich with the essential mineral. This explains why pandas spend so much of their lives seeking out bamboo. It also explains why zoos have a hard time keeping up with their dietary needs.

研究表明，這一切都是關于哺乳動物最基本的三種營養(yǎng)元素:氮、磷和鈣。在中國，大熊貓生活的地方——它們目前被認為是脆弱的物種——不同種類的竹子提供不同的營養(yǎng)。熊貓通過吃嫩竹筍來獲取氮和磷。當它們的鈣含量低時，它們會去尋找富含必需礦物質的箭筍。這就解釋了為什么熊貓會花大把的時間尋找竹子。這也解釋了為什么動物園很難滿足它們的飲食需求。

And that's before you factor in a global pandemic.

這還不包括全球大流行的因素。

"Er Shun and Da Mao will be deeply missed by staff, volunteers, donors and visitors from around the world," the Calgary Zoo noted in the release. "

卡爾加里動物園在新聞稿中寫道:“來自世界各地的工作人員、志愿者、捐贈者和游客將深深懷念二順和大毛。”

The zoo also noted that people won't be able to personally bid the bears a fond farewell. The facilities are temporarily closed. And, of course, pandemic or not, a giant panda naturally requires a little social distancing.

動物園還注意到，人們無法親自向熊貓道別。這些設施暫時關閉。當然，不管是不是流行病，大熊貓都需要一點社交距離。

You can, however, relive those happier days when Er Shun gave birth to a pair of bouncing baby cubs during her time at the Toronto Zoo.

然而，你可以重溫在多倫多動物園時，二順生下一對活潑的幼崽的快樂時光。