VOA常速英语2015--无人机帮助科学家们研究澳大利亚濒危的考拉（在线收听）

无人机帮助科学家们研究澳大利亚濒危的考拉

Koalas spend most of their lives in eucalyptus trees,whose leaves are their favorite food. Since the leaves are low on calories and nutritional content, koalas are not very active-they sleep up to 20 hours a day. Curled-up in high branches, they are not easy to spot from the ground, and they have few natural predators.The greatest threat to this iconic symbol of Australia is logging.

考拉的一生中绝大多数时间都是在桉树上，这种树的树叶是它们最喜爱的食物。由于桉树叶卡路里和营养含量都很低，因此不爱动的考拉每天要睡20个小时以上。由于居高临下在树枝上蜷缩，考拉不会轻易从地面发现，也罕有天敌。而对于澳大利亚的这种标志性动物考拉而言，最大的威胁是伐木。

“Every single tree in Australia right now, needs to be protected and unless that happens I can promise you the koala is going to go to extinction.”

“现在澳大利亚的每一棵树都需要保护，否则我可以保证考拉将会面临灭顶之灾。”

Scientists studying koalas say one of the keys for saving the animals is to know where they live and how many of them are left.

致力于考拉研究的科学家们表示拯救这种动物的其中一个重要环节在于了解它们的生存地及目前的数量。

Using drones fitted with infrared cameras to conduct a census was an untested concept. Queensland Institute of Technology technician, Gavin Broadbent, said they were skeptical at first.

而使用安装红外摄像机的无人机对考拉进行普查也是开创了先河。昆士兰理工学院技术员加文·布罗德本特表示对于这种想法，他们一开始是存在疑虑的。

“But when we saw the images come through, we saw the koalas were very distinct compared to the trees and the environment.So we thought, yes this is absolutely a proof of concept that could work.”

“但是当我们看到传回来的图像，我们看到同树木及周围环境相比考拉显得格外显眼。因此我们才想到这种想法绝对可行。”

The images beamed back to a computer clearly show the animal’s position, even from a distance far enough away not to disturb its sleep.

即便这些照片是为了不打扰考拉安眠在很远的位置拍摄，但传回电脑的照片依旧能够清晰地显示它们的位置。

“We have tested at 20 meters and 80 meters.At 20 meters we get really good resolution.”

“我们已经对20米和80米的拍摄高度进行了测试。20米的高度拍摄会传回给我们最为清晰的图像。”

The remotely controlled camera pivots and swivels, so scientists can scan the trees from all angles,picking out koalas even in the most dense areas, not visible to researchers on foot.

科学家们凭借遥控摄像机的旋转及转动对树木进行全方位扫描。即使是藏身于最茂密树叶中仅凭肉眼观察不到的考拉也能轻松锁定。

Amber Gillett is a veterinarian with the Australia Zoo.“So this will drastically reduce the manpower.Will greatly increase the area that can be covered to survey koalas and in areas where people may not be able to walk through because of dense undergrowth.”

澳大利亚动物园兽医安伯尔·吉利尔莱特说道:“这将大幅减少人力。也将极大地扩展考拉研究工作可覆盖的区域，使得能够在人们无法踏足的灌木等地方展开。”

Scientists say it is now clear that drones with infrared cameras can be used for spotting, and perhaps saving, other animals in the wild.

科学家们表示这种带有红外摄像机的无人机能够用于寻找其他野生动物，或许还能拯救它们的性命。