万花筒 Kaleidoscope 2007-05-06&07, 一切为了熊猫

They're cute, playful, cuddly¹, but apparently², not so passionate³, so researchers in China have found a way to get male pandas to put down their bamboo, get out of their trees and get in the mood.

We videotape pandas who mate successfully and play that for pandas who don't know how to do it.

Yes, that's right, panda porn. The theory is simple, show pandas like Lulu how it's done, so he can make the most of the three days every year when females are ready to mate. And it's not just the visuals but also the sounds of panda loving that does the job. And Lulu is raring to go.

Scientists here at China's Wolong Research Center have found what's good on tape is even better live, taking pandas who may be a little shy to watch others who aren't. Pandas also regularly swap⁴ panda partners, so each finds that someone special.

All of this has led to a panda baby boom with 20 cubs⁵, including this little guy, he's not so little, called Fido, being born here in the past year alone and that's more than ever before.

Zhang Hemin, the park's director, boasts his breeding program now has almost 100% success rate.

When you look at this, do you feel like a proud father?
Yes, I'm proud of this.

But not everything has worked. They tried Viagra once. It proved just too much for your average bear.

They stayed excited for a way too long.

Even so, after teetering on the edge of the extinction⁶, the future for the giant panda is looking hopeful and a little bit frisky⁷.

John Vause, CNN, Wolong, China.

1 cuddly   

adj.抱着很舒服的，可爱的

参考例句：

• The beautiful crib from Mom and Dad is so cuddly.爸爸妈妈送的漂亮婴儿床真舒服。
• You can't call a hedgehog cuddly.你不能说刺猬逗人喜爱。

2 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

3 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

4 swap   

n.交换；vt.交换，用...作交易

参考例句：

• I will swap you my bicycle for your radio.我想拿我的自行车换你的收音机。
• This comic was a swap that I got from Nick.这本漫画书是我从尼克那里换来的。

5 cubs   

n.幼小的兽，不懂规矩的年轻人( cub的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lioness guarding her cubs 守护幼崽的母狮
• Lion cubs depend on their mother to feed them. 狮子的幼仔依靠母狮喂养。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

7 frisky   

adj.活泼的，欢闹的；n.活泼，闹着玩；adv.活泼地，闹着玩地

参考例句：

• I felt frisky,as if I might break into a dance.我感到很欢快，似乎要跳起舞来。
• His horse was feeling frisky,and he had to hold the reins tightly.马儿欢蹦乱跳，他不得不紧勒缰绳。