挑嘴加拿大貓熊就要吃好竹 可惜台灣竹不是第一選擇

【看CP學英文】新冠肺炎(COVID-19)肆虐全球,除了疫情本身更引發了許多國際政治上的連鎖反應。加拿大卡爾加里(Calgary)動物園便宣布將把園內的兩隻貓熊還給中國,這兩隻貓熊 (二順和大毛)於 2014 年時,做為中國「貓熊外交」的一環,被送到加拿大借給園方展覽。原定展出 10 年到 2023 年才會離開,但加拿大決定提前將貓熊還給中國,因為當地缺乏足夠的竹子。

As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps across the world, the supply chain of many industries has been affected at various levels, including the sourcing of bamboo shoots for the Calgary Zoo in Canada.

The unexpected delays have had an unforeseen consequence: the zoo plans to send his star pandas back to China, three years earlier than originally planned. Er Shun and Da Mao arrived in Canada in 2014 as part of China’s “panda diplomacy.”

綜合外媒報導,卡爾加里動物園表示,兩隻健康的成年貓熊的食量驚人,每天都需要吃掉大量新鮮的竹子。過去園方是透過空運的方式從中國直接運來竹子,但隨著新冠肺炎蔓延,許多班機停飛,園方沒辦法再從中國運來竹子,這給園方飼育貓熊帶來很大的困難。

According to foreign media, adult pandas consume a large amount of fresh bamboo every day. Until recently, the zoo imported the staple directly from China, but as most flights have been canceled due to the pandemic, the zoo has faced difficulties in providing enough food for the animals.

卡爾加里動物園透露,他們努力透過其他管道來確保竹子供應無虞,但還是無法像過去那樣獲得品質穩定的竹子,有時候貓熊甚至會因為嫌棄竹子不新鮮而沒有食慾。園方強調,把貓熊提前送回中國是個困難的決定,但假如疫情造成的航班中斷持續下去,由於竹子取得不易,貓熊的身體健康也可能會遭到威脅。卡爾加里動物園指出,確保所有園內的動物健康永遠是第一優先,而此時此刻對於貓熊來說,最安全的莫過於待在一個當地盛產竹子的地方。

The Calgary Zoo reported that they have tried to acquire bamboo from other suppliers, but poor quality assurance meant that the pandas would surely lose their appetite if the bamboo weren’t fresh.

To send the pandas back was a difficult decision, the zoo said, but the animals’ health and well-being are their top priorities. They will be sent to a place where bamboo is abundant, which is the safest choice.

然而,台灣以出產優良的竹子聞名,且在疫情下依舊有航班飛往加拿大,或許進口台灣竹是個更省時省力的方法。

Well, Taiwan could have been an option for the zoo in the short term though. Most people don’t know but Taiwan is well known for its high-quality bamboo. More importantly, there are still some regular flights between Taiwan and Canada, which means that the Calgary Zoo could have saved time and money by importing bamboo from here too.

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