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Elephant warming up to treadmill
大象在跑步機上熱身
Monday, Jun 12, 2006,Page 15
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Elephants enjoy the warm climate at their facility in the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park.
大象在聖地牙哥野生動物園的象園享受溫暖的氣候。 (照片：法新社)
PHOTO: AFP
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So far, it's only the trainers at the Alaska Zoo who seem to be breaking a sweat. They've so far made little progress trying to coax Maggie, a somewhat cantankerous African elephant, onto the world's first treadmill made for an elephant.
For two months, Maggie's trainers have used her favorite treats -- watermelon, apples, carrots, peanuts in the shell, banana slices and sweet potatoes -- to entice the 3,600kg elephant into exercising on the US$100,000 (NT$3.2 million) piece of equipment.
``She has two feet on the treadmill and has touched a third one on it,'' zoo director Pat Lampi said. ``Every (15cm) forward is a new goal.''
Maggie's trainers and zoo staff aren't discouraged.
``It is just a matter of getting that fourth foot up off the concrete floor,'' said elephant trainer Rob Smith.
Maggie arrived at the zoo in 1983 as a calf from Kruger National Park in South Africa. She has been alone since Dec. 14, 1997, when the zoo's other elephant died at age 33 of a foot infection.
The treadmill is part of a US$1 million program the zoo launched two years ago to improve Maggie's life after deciding to keep Alaska's only elephant instead of placing her at another facility, perhaps in a warmer climate with more elephants.
The zoo's program for Maggie included doubling the size of the elephant house and installing new heating, light and ventilation systems.
Feeding stations were placed high so that she now stretches for her food. Treats are hidden around to help keep her busy. She's provided logs to strip the bark off of.
The extra activity and a diet have helped Maggie shed about 500kg. ``We think she's at a good weight now. It is just a matter of maintaining that,'' Lampi said. (AP)
阿拉斯加動物園的訓練員試圖把一頭脾氣古怪的非洲象「瑪姬」誘上世界第一台專為大象設計的跑步機，不過目前為止成效不彰，倒是訓練員自己累得滿身汗。
兩個月來，訓練員不斷用瑪姬最愛的食物：西瓜、蘋果、紅蘿蔔、帶殼花生、香蕉切片和蕃薯，來誘使這頭三千六百公斤的大象在十萬美元（新台幣三百二十萬元）的器材上運動。
「她兩隻腳站在跑步機上，第三隻腳也沾到邊。」動物園園長派特*蘭比表示：「每前進十五公分都是新目標。」
瑪姬的訓練員和動物園工作人員並不氣餒。
大象訓練員羅伯*史密斯表示：「重點就是要讓她第四隻腳抬離水泥地。」
瑪姬一九八三年從南非克魯格國家公園來到阿拉斯加動物園，當時她還是一頭幼象。自從一九九七年十二月十四日，公園另一頭大象在三十三歲死於足部感染後，她就一直形單影隻。
為保有阿拉斯加唯一的大象，不將她移置其他較溫暖、擁有較多大象的象園，動物園在兩年前發起一項耗資一百萬美元的計畫改善瑪姬的生活，跑步機就是這項計畫的一部分。
這項專為瑪姬訂定的計畫包括將象屋擴大兩倍，並加裝供熱、照明和通風等新系統。
動物園將餵料站設在高處，所以瑪姬現在得做些伸展才能取得食物，還把她最愛食物藏在各個角落讓她保持忙碌，甚至給她原木讓她剝樹皮。
額外的運動和節食已幫助瑪姬甩掉約五百公斤的肥肉。蘭比表示：「我們認為她現在的體重很理想，重點在於維持體重。」 （美聯社／翻譯：鄭湘儀）
| Today's Words 今天單字 |
1. coax v.t.
勸誘 (quan4 you4)
例：The teacher promised the students a game later to coax them into completing their work.
（為了哄學生把功課做完，老師答應他們稍後玩遊戲。）
2. cantankerous adj.
難相處的 (nan2 xiang1 chu3 de5)、脾氣不好的 (pi2 qi4 bu4 hao3 de5)
例：The cantankerous old man yelled at the laughing kids.
（那個脾氣古怪的老先生對嘻笑的孩子咆哮。）
3. entice v.t.
慫恿 (song3 yong3)，誘使 (you4 shi3)
例：Jessica enticed me over to her house with the promise of pie.
（為了拐我去她家，潔西卡答應請我吃派。）
4. maintain v.i./v.t.
保持 (bao3 chi2)
例：If you can maintain your grades, you will easily pass this class.
（你若能維持成績就能輕易通過這堂課。） |
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Reading Comprehension
閱讀測驗 |
1. What is NOT one of Maggie's favorite treats?
a. Peanuts out of the shell.
b. Sweet potatoes.
c. Carrots.
2. Maggie's trainers ...
a. have decided to stop offering her sweet food.
b. don't believe she will ever use the treadmill.
c. think that Maggie's weight is good now.
3. Maggie lives ...
a. with other elephants from South Africa.
b. in Kruger National Park.
c. alone in Alaska.
4. How much did the treadmill cost?
a. US$100,000.
b. US$3.2 million.
c. US$1 million. |
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