纪录片《卧底企鹅帮》 第15期 漫漫长路(15)

At the emperor colony, after mating, the new couples keep themselves to themselves.

至于帝企鹅群，配对后，新组合的小两口都自顾自

Two weeks later, it's time for their single egg to be laid.

两周后，它们该产下唯一的一颗蛋了

Both share in this precious moment.

双方一起迎接这一宝贵的时刻

On ice, laying is a challenge.

在冰上产卵异常艰难

A dropped egg will quickly freeze, and their long march would have been for nothing.

如果蛋不慎摔落，很快就会冻住，辛苦那么久就都白费了

She flicks¹ her tail forward to catch the egg, while her feet cushion the fall.

它将尾巴往前拍，接住蛋，然后用脚垫着

Success!

成功了

She shows off her treasure - her partner must understand that he shares the responsibility.

它展示着自己的珍宝，它的配偶必须明白自己也要分担责任

It will soon be his turn to care for it.

很快就要轮到它照顾了

For the female, producing the egg has taken its toll²

对雌企鹅来说，下蛋让它心力交瘁

and she must soon leave for the sea to feed and recuperate³.

它必须马上去海里捕食来恢复体力

The future of their developing chick now depends on the strength and endurance of its father.

孩子的未来现在就靠父亲的力量和耐力了

Back in the Falklands, rockhopper eggs are being laid throughout the colony.

回到福克兰群岛，整个跳岩企鹅群都在下蛋

Rockhoppers have two eggs, the first is smaller than the second.

跳岩企鹅能下两颗蛋，第一颗比第二颗小些

The lesser⁴ egg is for insurance - it's often taken by predators⁵.

小一些的蛋是为了保险起见，因为通常会被捕食者夺走

Skuas seize more than any other.

捕食者多为贼鸥

Their strategy is simple - attack from out of the blue.

它们的战略很简单，突然袭击

1 flicks   

（尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的第三人称单数 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等）

参考例句：

• 'I shall see it on the flicks, I suppose.' “电影上总归看得见。” 来自英汉文学
• Last night to the flicks. 昨晚看了场电影。 来自英汉文学

2 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

3 recuperate   

v.恢复

参考例句：

• Stay in the hospital for a few more days to recuperate.再住院几天，好好地恢复。
• He went to the country to recuperate.他去乡下养病去了。

4 lesser   

adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地

参考例句：

• Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。
• She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及，但程度较轻。

5 predators   

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）

参考例句：

• birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
• The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》