VOA慢速英語：印尼發(fā)現(xiàn)新的猩猩物種

New Orangutan Species Discovered in Indonesia

印尼發(fā)現(xiàn)新的猩猩物種

Scientists say they have discovered a new species of orangutans on Indonesia's island of Sumatra.

科學家表示，他們在印尼的蘇門答臘島上發(fā)現(xiàn)了一種新的猩猩物種。

The population differs in several ways from the two existing orangutan species found in Sumatra and the neighboring island of Borneo.

這種物種跟蘇門答臘島以及鄰近的婆羅洲島上現(xiàn)有的兩種猩猩物種存在若干差異。

The orangutans were found inside North Sumatra's Batang Toru forest, the science publication Current Biology reported.

據(jù)《當代生物學》科學雜志報道，這種猩猩是在蘇門答臘島北部的巴當托魯森林里發(fā)現(xiàn)的。

Researchers named the new species the Tapanuli orangutan. They say the animals are considered a new species because of genetic, skeletal and tooth differences.

研究人員將這種新物種命名為打巴奴里猩猩(Tapanuli orangutan)。他們表示，因為基因、骨骼和牙齒的差異，這種動物被認為是一種新物種。

Michael Kruetzen is a geneticist with the University of Zurich who has studied the orangutans for several years. He said he was excited to be part of the unusual discovery of a new great ape in the present day. He noted that most great apes are currently considered endangered or severely endangered.

Michael Kruetzen是蘇黎世大學一名研究猩猩多年的遺傳學家。他說，他很高興成為目前這種新類人猿的不尋常發(fā)現(xiàn)的一部分。他指出，目前大多數(shù)類人猿都處于瀕?；驀乐貫l危狀態(tài)。

Gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos also belong to the great ape species.

大猩猩、黑猩猩和倭黑猩猩也屬于類人猿類。

Orangutan – which means person of the forest in the Indonesian and Malay languages - is the world's biggest tree-living mammal. The orange-haired animals can move easily among the trees because their arms are longer than their legs. They live more lonely lives than other great apes, spending a lot of time sleeping and eating fruit in the forest.

猩猩在印尼和馬來語中意指森林中的人類，它們是地球上最大的在樹上生活的哺乳動物。這種毛發(fā)橙紅色的動物可以在樹叢之間輕松移動，因為它們的胳膊比腿要長。它們比其它類人猿生活更加孤獨，花費大量時間睡覺和吃森林里的水果。

The new study said fewer than 800 of the newly-described orangutans exist. Their low numbers make the group the most endangered of all the great ape species.

這項新研究表示，這種新發(fā)現(xiàn)的猩猩現(xiàn)存不足800來只。它們的數(shù)量稀少使其成為類人猿物種中最瀕危的群體。

They live within an area covering about 1,000 square kilometers. The population is considered highly vulnerable. That is because the environment which they depend on is greatly threatened by development.

它們生活在一片大約1000平方公里的區(qū)域。該種群被認為是極度脆弱的，這是因為它們賴以生存的環(huán)境受到了人類發(fā)展的極大威脅。

Researchers say if steps are not taken quickly to reduce the current and future threats, the new species could become extinct "within our lifetime."

研究人員表示，如果不迅速采取措施減少現(xiàn)有和未來的威脅，這種新物種可能會在我們有生之年內(nèi)滅絕。

Research into the new species began in 2013, when an orangutan protection group in Sumatra found an injured orangutan in an area far away from the other species. The adult male orangutan had been beaten by local villagers and died of his injuries. The complete skull was examined by researchers.

對這種新物種的研究始于2013年，當時蘇門答臘島上的一個猩猩保護組織在遠離其它物種的區(qū)域發(fā)現(xiàn)了一只受傷的猩猩。這只成年雄性猩猩受到了當?shù)卮迕竦臍虿⒁騻滤?。研究人員檢查了這只猩猩的完整頭骨。

Among the physical differences of the new species are a notably smaller head and frizzier hair. The Tapanuli orangutans also have a different diet and are found only in higher forest areas.

這種新物種的生理差異包括頭部非常小，毛發(fā)卷曲。打巴奴里猩猩的飲食習慣也不同，而且只能在高海拔森林地區(qū)找到。

There is no unified international system for recognizing new species. But to be considered, discovery claims at least require publication in a major scientific publication.

目前承認一種新的物種沒有統(tǒng)一的國際體系。但是聲稱發(fā)現(xiàn)新物種至少需要在一家重要的科學雜志上發(fā)表。

Russell Mittermeier is head of the primate specialist group at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. He called the finding a "remarkable discovery." He said it puts responsibility on the Indonesian government to help the species survive.

Russell Mittermeier是國際自然保護聯(lián)盟靈長類專家組的負責人。他稱這是“一次非凡的發(fā)現(xiàn)。”他說，這使得印尼政府有責任幫助該物種生存。

Matthew Nowak is one of the writers of the study. He told the Associated Press that there are three groups of the Tapanuli orangutans that are separated by non-protected land.

Matthew Nowak是該研究的作者之一。他對美聯(lián)社表示，有三群打巴奴里猩猩，它們被非保護區(qū)隔離開來。

He said forest land needs to connect the separated groups.

他說，需要用林地把這些隔開的猩猩連接起來。

In addition, the writers of the study are recommending that plans for a hydropower center in the area be stopped by the government.

此外，該研究的作者還建議，政府應該阻止該地區(qū)建設水電中心的計劃。

It also recommended that remaining forest in the Sumatran area where the orangutans live be protected.

他們還建議蘇門答臘島上這些猩猩生存的其它森林也要保護起來。

I'm Bryan Lynn.

布萊尼·林恩報道。