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進入《中英對照讀新聞》Endangered tiger cub triplets born in London 瀕危老虎三胞胎在倫敦出生
◎魏國金
At London Zoo, good news has come in threes.
倫敦動物園三喜臨門。
The zoo said Thursday that 5-year-old Sumatran tiger Melati has given birth to triplets, a little more than a year after the endangered tiger lost a three-week-old cub.
動物園週四表示，5歲的蘇門答臘虎「梅拉蒂」產下3胞胎；這頭瀕臨絕種的老虎在失去3週大的寶寶1年多後再度為母。
London Zoo said the three cubs all arrived within an hour of each other early on Feb. 3. The cubs’ first moments have been captured on hidden cameras and zookeepers are monitoring the three around the clock.
倫敦動物園說，3隻幼虎於2月3日清晨的1小時內接續報到。隱藏式攝影機捕捉到幼虎出生的最初時刻，園方人員也日夜不停地監視這3隻小虎。
Teague Stubbington, a zookeeper, said the cubs have hit several milestones including opening their eyes and taking tentative first steps, and that their personalities are starting to emerge.
動物園管理員斯督賓登表示，幼虎們已達到好幾個里程碑，包括張開眼睛、蹣跚學步，以及性格開始浮現等。
Stubbington revealed that one has earned the nickname “Trouble” for being first to explore its den and also for waking up the other two cubs.
斯督賓登透露，其中1隻幼虎因率先探索牠的居所，以及吵醒其他2隻幼虎而贏得「麻煩」的綽號。
Sumatran tigers are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Animals. （AP）
蘇門答臘虎在「國際自然保育聯盟」的「瀕危動物紅皮書」中，被列為極危等級。（美聯社）
新聞辭典
endangered：（生命）有危險的、有滅絕危險的。例如：an endangered species（瀕臨滅絕的物種）
tentative：試探性的、暫時性的、猶豫的。例句：She gave us a tentative smile.（她怯生生地向我們微笑。）
around the clock：日夜不停的、持續不斷的。例句：The students have launched peaceful around the clock demonstrations.（學生發動一整天的和平示威。）
