《中英對照讀新聞》Berlin celebrates 25 years with bachelor panda 柏林慶祝和光棍熊貓共度25年

◎ 陳宜君

Berlin will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the arrival from China of Bao Bao, the world’s oldest panda in captivity, amidst fading hopes that the bear will ever produce offspring. Lying on its back munching bamboo shoots flown in from France, the 115-kilogram black and white bear looks quite oblivious to the fuss.

在全球最高齡的人工豢養熊貓「寶寶」產出後代的希望日益渺茫之際，柏林將慶祝寶寶自中國抵達德國25週年。一邊躺著、一邊津津有味咀嚼從法國空運來的竹子嫩枝，這頭115公斤重、有黑白兩色毛皮的熊似乎對這種種紛擾毫無知覺。

Berliners may be particularly fond of their zoo, but it is Bao Bao and his disappointing love life that grips their imagination more than any other denizen. He came out from China when he was two years old, not long after Beijing first began handing out the cuddly-looking bears in a bid to improve foreign relations. London, Moscow, Vienna, Washington, Madrid and Paris have all benefitted. In 1980, it was Berlin’s turn and Bao Bao arrived with his first companion, Tjen Tjen.

柏林人可能特別喜歡他們的動物園，但在各種外國動物之中，最能吸引他們興趣的是寶寶及其令人失望的愛情生活。他2歲時來自中國，當時北京才剛剛開始送出這種討人喜愛的熊來改善外交關係。倫敦、莫斯科、維也納、華盛頓、馬德里和巴黎全都受惠。1980年輪到柏林，寶寶和他的第一位伴侶「天天」一起抵達。

Tragedy struck not long afterwards when Tjen Tjen died of a virus just as she reached the age where she could have cubs. Since then the zoo has repeatedly tried and failed to find a mate that could give Bao Bao offspring and help save the endangered species that turns sex-shy in captivity.

不久後發生悲劇，已屆生育年齡的天天感染某種病毒死亡。此後園方一再嘗試尋找能給寶寶產出後代的伴侶，以協助挽救此種被豢養後就對性愛變得畏縮的瀕臨絕種物種，但均告失敗。

新聞辭典

bachelor：單身男子。a confirmed bachelor是決定一輩子打光棍的男子，an eligible bachelor則是適合作為結婚對象的未婚男性。單身女子是spinster，不過通常是指帶有貶意的老處女。

oblivious to：片語，不在意的、未察覺的。to可以of替代。例句：He was oblivious of the danger. （他沒有察覺危險。）cuddly：逗人喜愛的，令人想摟抱的。動詞與名詞均為cuddle。cuddle up是指依偎；例句：The children cuddled up to each other in bed. （孩子們在床上彼此緊挨著。）