新浪首页 > 新浪教育 > 英汉双语阅读空间 > 正文

独特的希腊海龟

http://www.sina.com.cn 2004/11/04 19:24  新浪教育

  GREECE

  独特的希腊海龟

  Every year thousands of tourists flock to the sandy beaches of Greece. Visitors are drawn to the warm weather and pretty views. Consequently, many restaurants, hotels, and shopping centers have been built. These businesses have helped the economy, but have hurt the environment.

  One species especially, the giant sea turtle, has been affected by the presence of new buildings. The loggerhead turtle (caretta caretta) spends almost its enti
re life in the water. However, the female loggerhead comes ashore on Greek beaches once or twice a year to lay her eggs.

  For centuries, a loggerhead's instincts have told it to lay its eggs on the same beach where it was hatched. The female ventures onto land cautiously. Knowing she will not be around to see her eggs hatch, the mother turtle looks for a safe spot. She uses her flippers to brush away the sand and digs a pit into which she fits her body. Slowly she lays about 120 round white eggs, each about the size of a golf ball. When she is done, she covers the nest with sand and swims back into the ocean. In about 50 days, baby turtles will begin to emerge.

  The hatchlings are guided to the ocean by stars and moonlight. However, bright lights from nearby businesses can confuse the turtles. Instead of leading them to the ocean, the lights lead them farther inland, where they die of dehydration (lack of water). The lights also scare the adult females. In fact, they were no longer coming ashore to lay their eggs. The entire population of Greece's marine turtles was seriously threatened. They were on the brink of extinction.

  In 1983, a small but dedicated group of Greeks decided to act before it was too late. They founded the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece (STPS). They began monitoring and protecting the turtles. They also educated the public about the problem. Their research revealed that Sekania Beach on the island of Zakynthos had more than 2,000 turtle nests. The members of STPS knew they had to save the site, so they contacted the World Wildlife Fund for more help. The World Wildlife Fund bought the beach and turned it into the National Marine Park of Zakyn- thos. Eggs could be laid and hatched safely at the site.

  Today, the STPS has more than 500 members and is the most successful private conservation organization in Greece. Its public education programs reach more than 100,000 people per year. The society monitors and protects turtles on the Greek islands of Zakynthos, Lakonikos, Kothihi, Kiparisia, and Crete. This small group of people proved that with a little time and consideration, anyone can make a difference.

  flock:群集,蜂拥

  loggerhead turtle: 龟

  instinct:本能

  hatch:孵出

  flipper:前肢

  hatchling:新孵出的雏龟

  dehydration:脱水

  brink:边缘

  conservation:(对自然资源的)保护



评论】 【推荐】 【 】 【打印】 【下载点点通】 【关闭


    



新 闻 查 询
关键词一
关键词二
服饰 首饰 手机
电器 MP3 数码相机
热 点 专 题
美国总统大选
2004珠海国际航空展
拉登最新录像曝光
阿拉法特病情严重
央行9年来首次加息
高峰亲子鉴定风波
中国足球改革风暴
加息后如何买房还贷
楼虫帮您买楼支招

 
 ⊙ 分类信息 投资赚钱的秘密武器!专治面瘫遗尿尿失禁 权威医院治愈高血压!
·高血压人要“解放”! ·治疗皮肤癣的最新成果 ·治愈股骨头坏死新突破 ·如果你有胃肠道疾病?
·你知道干啥最赚钱吗? ·开唐林香烧鸡烤鸭店 ·好生意,一月收回投资! ·疤痕疙瘩、痤疮一扫光
·8800元投资!88万年利 ·粥全粥道,赚钱之道! ·普通人,百万富翁的路! ·权威治皮肤顽疾白斑症
·让人人都有性感的家 ·投资几千元快活做老板 ·治疗肾病尿毒症新突破 ·当糖尿病患者“绝望时”
 



文化教育意见反馈留言板电话:010-62630930-5178 欢迎批评指正

新浪简介 | About Sina | 广告服务 | 招聘信息 | 网站律师 | SINA English | 产品答疑

Copyright © 1996 - 2004 SINA Inc. All Rights Reserved

版权所有 新浪网
北京市通信公司提供网络带宽