2007年VOA标准英语-US Preserve Houses Hundreds of Primates

By Ade Astuti and Ariadne Budianto
Washington, DC
15 June 2007
 

In the subtropical climate of southern Florida, a state in the southeast United States, many people each year visit a "jungle" that advertises itself as the place "where humans are caged and monkeys run wild."   It's called the "Monkey Jungle," a primate¹ park in the humid forests on the edge of one of the largest U.S. cities. Producers Ade Astuti and Ariadne Budianto take you there.

Monkey Jungle is a primate habitat that serves as home to some 30 species of monkeys, gorillas² and orangutans.  It is a preserve and park open to the public in South Dade County on the southern edge of the big city of Miami.

Unlike many local zoos, where animals are caged, the primates³ here roam freely through much of Monkey Jungle.   Here, it is the people who are behind wire.

One of the main caretakers, Katlyn Chantlor, leads tourists through the park.

Katlyn Chantlor

"Here at Monkey Jungle we have  approximately 17 different species of primates.  We also have birds and reptiles⁴, and close to 400 animals all together."

In 1933, animal behaviorist Joseph DuMond released six Macacas in the South Florida forest. Today, the 12-hectare reserve still attracts scientists interested in primate behavior.

Monkey Jungle Manager Steve Jacques wants visitors to understand the legacy⁵ of this place. "Sheron DuMond [granddaughter of Joseph DuMond], who is obviously the granddaughter of the original people, owns and operates the park today," he explains." So it's the third generation and basically her objective is to maintain the tradition and dreams that her grandparents and parents had. That is to provide a facility, a home for the animals to promote education and conservation to the public as they come in."

The park bills itself as one of the few protected habitats in the U.S. for endangered primates that normally live in the wilds of South America, Asia and Africa.

Mei is a 21-year-old Orangutang.  At home in Indonesia, some varieties are considered endangered. Here, the popular Mei is fluent in sign language. Katlyn communicates with Mei by saying, "I love you."

For a $25 entrance fee, tourists can see and interact with the monkeys.  People can feed raisins⁶ to squirrel monkeys.

Pennsylvania resident Christen Griffin visited Monkey Jungle with her family to experience the wildlife habitat. "It's almost like hands on," she said.  "You're not allowed to touch them, but [you may] feed them and interact. It's definitely an excellent experience."

The people who run Monkey Jungle hope visitors will not only be entertained, but also appreciate the behavior of primates and their tenuous⁷ place in the world.

1 primate   

n.灵长类（目）动物，首席主教；adj.首要的

参考例句：

• 14 percent of primate species are highly endangered.14%的灵长类物种处于高度濒危状态。
• The woolly spider monkey is the largest primate in the Americas.绒毛蛛猴是美洲最大的灵长类动物。

2 gorillas   

n.大猩猩( gorilla的名词复数 )；暴徒，打手

参考例句：

• the similitude between humans and gorillas 人类和大猩猩的相像
• Each family of gorillas is led by a great silverbacked patriarch. 每个大星星家族都由一个魁梧的、长着银色被毛的族长带领着。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 primates   

primate的复数

参考例句：

• Primates are alert, inquisitive animals. 灵长目动物是机灵、好奇的动物。
• Consciousness or cerebration has been said to have emerged in the evolution of higher primates. 据说意识或思考在较高级灵长类的进化中已出现。

4 reptiles   

n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Snakes and crocodiles are both reptiles. 蛇和鳄鱼都是爬行动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Birds, reptiles and insects come from eggs. 鸟类、爬虫及昆虫是卵生的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

6 raisins   

n.葡萄干( raisin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These raisins come from Xinjiang,they taste delicious. 这些葡萄干产自新疆，味道很甜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mother put some raisins in the cake. 母亲在糕饼中放了一些葡萄干。 来自辞典例句

7 tenuous   

adj.细薄的，稀薄的，空洞的

参考例句：

• He has a rather tenuous grasp of reality.他对现实认识很肤浅。
• The air ten miles above the earth is very tenuous.距离地面十公里的空气十分稀薄。