翻译：SniperGUO
在美洲的中心
In the heart of the Americas
大陆板块的碰撞地带
where continents collide
有一片有着富饶自然资源的土地
there's a land full of natural riches.
一片有着高山巨岭的土地
A land of towering giants...
有炎热的沙漠
..scorching sands...
和隐秘的河流
..and secret rivers.
这是一片伟大文明崛起过..
Where great civilisations rose...
又消逝了的地方
..and fell.
但热情积极的精神依然被继承了下来
To succeed here takes passion and spirit.
这是一个有着丰富多彩的文化的国度
This is a country rich in colour and culture.
这是一场生命的狂欢
A festival of life.
这里是墨西哥
This is Mexico.
墨西哥
地球生命的狂欢
火热的北部
在美国边境以南是一片鲜为人知的地带
Just south of the American border is a little-known world...
墨西哥北部的草原
..Northern Mexico's prairie lands.
这片干燥的草原是墨西哥最随和的一种动物的家园
These dry grasslands are home to one of Mexico's most sociable animals...
黑尾草原土拔鼠
..the black-tailed prairie dog.
它们生活在由几十个家庭组成的庞大的群体中
They live in extensive colonies comprised of dozens of families,
每户都由一只公鼠 几只母鼠
each with a dominant male, several females
and their offspring.
以及它们的后代组成
在5月 它们6周大的幼鼠将第一次爬上地面
In May, their six-week-old pups take their first steps above ground.
Grasses and other prairie plants provide all the food and moisture these vegetarians need.
草和其他草原植物为这些食草动物提供了充足的食物和水分
But feeding in this open terrain
但在这种空旷的地方进食
comes with risks.
总会伴随着危险
Their burrows offer an escape from birds of prey
它们的洞穴能躲避鸟类掠食者
and coyotes.
和土狼
But they're no protection from one of the prairie's most persistent hunters
但它们无法抵御草原上最有意志力的猎手
the bullsnake.
牛蛇
This powerful constrictor could easily suffocate an adult prairie dog.
这种强大的蛇能轻易勒死一只成年土拨鼠
But it's pups he's after.
但幼鼠才是他的目标
And they are hiding somewhere in their burrow.
而幼鼠正躲在它们的洞穴里
Their father would be foolhardy to follow this predator underground.
它们的父亲粗莾地跟着这条地下掠食者
The snake's found nothing down this hole,
这条蛇在洞里一无所获
so he's on to the next.
所以他准备前往下一个洞穴
To save his pups
为了救幼鼠
their father must somehow drive the snake away.
鼠爸必须想办法把蛇引走
He stands to warn others
他站起来警告其他土拔鼠蛇在哪里
Repeated strikes may just drive it away.
反复不断的袭击或许能赶走它
The snake concedes defeat.
牛蛇承认了失败
On the open prairies
在开阔的草原上
there's safety in numbers in this prairie-dog town.
这处土拨鼠的聚集地又恢复了安全
Thanks to their father's bravery,
多亏了鼠爸的勇敢
the pups are safe again.
幼鼠们又安全了
Northern Mexico
墨西哥北部
sits at a latitude where high atmospheric pressure dominates.
处于副热带高压带地区
A little rain ever falls.
降雨量很小
This is Mexico's driest region.
这是墨西哥最干燥的地区
Much of it is desert.
大部分都是荒漠
It's the least populated, wildest corner of the country.
这是这个国家人口最少 最荒凉的地方
Journey west
向西行进
and conditions only get hotter, drier and more challenging.
自然条件只会更炎热 更干燥 更有挑战性
But for those who overcome these conditions
但对于克服了这些条件的人
there are rich rewards...
这里处处都是宝物
..especially on Mexico's northern prairies.
尤其是墨西哥北部的草原
Lying in the foothills of mountains, at an altitude of over 5,000 feet,
卧在海拔超过5000英尺的山脉脚下
these grasslands catch a little more rain than most of the north.
这片草原的降雨量比北部其他地区稍多一点
Between June and September,
在6月到9月之间
monsoon storms roll in off the Caribbean
季风风暴从加勒比海滚滚而来
helping grass to grow.
有助于草类的生长
For the rest of the year,
剩下的几个月
little, if any, rain falls.
降雨量会很小甚至没有
But even during drought,
即使在干旱期间
there is water here.
这里还是有水源的
Deep underground
在地下深处
great reservoirs are trapped in the porous limestone bedrock.
巨大的水库被深藏在多孔的石灰岩岩床之中
These giant aquifers help support
这些巨型蓄水层支撑着
one of Mexico's most iconic ways of life.
墨西哥最具特色的生活方式之一
This is cowboy country.
这里是牛仔的天堂
With year-round water and plenty of pasture,
有了常年不断的水源和充足丰盛的牧草
these prairies are ideal for cattle ranching.
这片草原成为了理想的牧牛场地
For centuries
几世纪来
people like Servando Diaz Gomez
像赛万多·迪亚兹·戈麦兹这样的人们
have worked this land.
在这片土地上辛勤工作着
从我还是个孩子起
我们就已经和牛群一起生活了
这种生活方式早已溶进我的血液
这是我激情的来源
Cowboys are rooted in American culture
牛仔作为一项美国文化已经根深蒂固
but their true birthplace is here
但他们真正的诞生地是在这里
in the prairies of Northern Mexico.
在墨西哥北部的草原上
In the 16th century
16世纪时
the Spanish brought cattle and horses to the north
西班牙人把牛和马带到了北边
and trained locals to manage their herds.
并训练当地人来管理他们的牧群
The vaquero, or cowboy, was born.
放牛人或者叫做牛仔 就此诞生了
我会一直做下去
即使他们不给我发工资
真实的原因是
我沉浸于和大自然的相处
这些动物
让我感到充实
让我感到满足
But the dry conditions make ranching tough.
但干旱的条件让放牧变得很艰苦
These grasses are easily overgrazed.
这些草场很容易遭到过度放牧的破坏
Over the last 100 years,
最近100年来
farming and drought have damaged over half of the prairies.
农业的发展和干旱已经破坏了半个草原
But Servando is one of a pioneering band
但赛万多是有着先进开创思维牛仔中的一员
trying to reverse this trend.
试图扭转这种趋势
Using electric fences,
使用通电围栏
he confines his herd to small blocks of pasture.
他把牧群限制在小块的牧场里
Every few hours, they're moved on to the next block.
每过几个小时 它们就被赶往下一块牧场
The grazed area is then left to recover.
留下放过牧的区域进行恢复
It's a practice that's having a big impact.
这种放牧方式的实践会产生很大的影响
This healthy pasture
这片健康的草场
is helping Servando rear twice as many cattle.
让赛万多饲养了两倍的牛群
And wildlife is thriving.
野生动物也得意茁壮成长
Well-managed prairies offer a rich diet of insects and seeds
管理良好的草场能提供丰富的昆虫和草种
for up to three times as many grassland birds.
为三倍多的草原鸟类提供了食物
And they provide food for one of Mexico's rarest creatures...
而草原鸟类为墨西哥最稀有的一种动物提供了食物
..the aplomado falcon.
黄腹隼
They range as far south as Argentina
它们的活动范围最南能到达阿根廷
but Mexico's prairies are their northern limit
而墨西哥的草原则是它们活动范围的最北侧
where only a handful survive.
而这里存活的黄腹隼屈指可数
Like its relative
类似于它的同类
the peregrine
it specialises in aerial assault.
十分擅长空中突袭
The falcon is much faster in level flight.
黄腹隼的平行飞行要快得多
But its prey is far quicker on the turn.
但它的猎物转向速度更快
Only one in five pursuits ends in success.
五次追捕只有一次成功
But aplomado falcons have a secret weapon...
但黄腹隼有一件秘密武器
..breeding pairs hunt together.
那就是夫妻同心一起捕猎
Their prey's only chance to escape is to hide.
猎物唯一的逃脱方法就是躲起来
The falcons need to flush the bird out...
黄腹隼们需要把小鸟赶出来
..and two birds are better than one.
夫妻合作比一人单干更有效率
Working together
一起合作
these birds are twice as successful.
它们能事半功倍
And every catch is vital when you're raising a family.
当你要养家糊口时 每一次捕猎都是至关重要的
Conservationists have put up platforms
环境保护者搭建了一个平台
to protect the precious chicks from ravens and owls.
用以保护这些珍贵的雏鸟不受乌鸦和猫头鹰的伤害
Precious because they are so rare.
因为稀有所以珍贵
There are only five pairs here
这里仅有5对黄腹隼
and these are the only ones to successfully breed this year.
而这些雏鸟是今年唯一成功繁殖下来的
But with conservationists and ranchers looking out for these spectacular birds
但有了环境保护者和牧场主对这种特别的鸟的照顾
they've hopefully got a brighter future.
它们未来的希望会明朗许多
Teamwork is important for many in Mexico's prairies.
团队合作对墨西哥草原上的很多动物来说都很重要
So, too, is bravery.
当然 勇气也很重要
你会感到肾上腺素在狂飙
它让我害怕
我的名字叫马丁·加西亚
“艾尔查罗”的我的激情所在
Charros are traditionally dressed cowboys
“查罗”是传统的盛装牛仔
who compete in Mexico's official national sport
他们要参加墨西哥官方举办的一项国家级的体育赛事
the charreria.
骑术大赛
What was once a friendly competition between neighbours hundreds of years ago
这种原本是乡邻之间的友好竞技已有数百年历史了
is now the ultimate display of cowboy bravado.
现在成为了牛仔冒险精神的终极展示
Each team of charros is made up of specialists is made up of specialists
每支队伍都是由高手们所组成
who perform nine different equestrian events across the day...
他们一天要完成九种不同的骑术项目
that showcase all the cattle handling riding and roping skills used in cowboy life.
展示牛仔在生活中所运用的所有对牛的操控 骑术和套索技能
The most dangerous is saved until last.
最危险的是要坚持存活到最后一刻
Martin specialises in el paso de la muerte
马丁专注于思考el paso de la muerte
..the pass of death.
意思是战胜死亡
Galloping at full speed
在全速飞驰时
he has to jump onto the back of a wild, untamed horse
他必须跳到一匹野马的背上去
and hang on without reins.
然后在没有马绳的情况下坚持不掉下来
我失败了好几次
当你跳过去
却掉了下来
If he falls, he'll be trampled.
如果他掉下去 就会被马蹄踩踏
我把自己交给了上帝
该发生的事总会发生
Martin now risks everything to secure victory for his team.
马丁为了团队的胜利甘冒一切险
当你成功跳过去时
每个人都为你鼓掌欢呼
这会让你很自豪
In the burning north
在炎热的北部
success favours the brave.
成功青睐勇者
Mexico's prairies
墨西哥的草原
run along the edge of great mountain ranges
沿着大型山脉的边缘铺开
the Western and Eastern
西边和东边
Sierra Madres.
都是马德雷山脉
Over 10,000 feet high,
超过一万英尺的海拔
they intercept moist air coming from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
山脉拦截了来自太平洋和墨西哥湾的潮湿空气
Beyond the prairies
越过草原
the land is starved of rain...
是一片极缺雨水的土地
..creating one of the biggest deserts in North America.
造就了北美最大的沙漠之一
The Chihuahuan Desert.
奇瓦瓦沙漠
It covers an area larger than Britain
它的面积比英国还大
and receives about half as much rain as the prairies.
而降雨量只有草原的一半
But in the heart of this desert
但在沙漠的中心
is one of Mexico's greatest natural wonders
有墨西哥最伟大的自然奇观之一
the valley of Cuatro Cienegas.
夸特罗-塞内格斯山谷
It may look barren
这里可能看起来很贫瘠
but this valley hides an oasis.
但这个山谷里隐藏着一片绿洲
Here, aquifers break the surface
在这里 地下含水层破坏了地表
creating a water world.
创造了一个水的世界
Most of these pools
其中大多数水塘
known locally as pozas
被当地人称作波萨斯
are fed by thermal springs
被温泉注满
where underground water is forced to the surface by geothermal heat.
这些地下水被地热加热后 被迫突出了地表
Millions of years ago
数百万年前
when this region was much wetter
这个地区比现在要潮湿很多
ancient waterways brought fish into this valley.
远古的水道把鱼类带到了这片山谷
As the climate dried
随着气候变得干燥
the waters receded
水流也退去了
and fish became isolated in pools
这些鱼就被孤立了在一个个的水塘中
evolving into many new species.
进化出了许多新的物种
16 species live here,
16种鱼类生活在这里
half of them found nowhere else on Earth.
其中半数在地球上其他地方都未曾发现过
Including this one
包括这一种
a Cuatro Cienegas cichlid.
夸特罗-赛内格斯慈鲷
This female has a family...
这条雌鱼有一个家庭
and she is the most devoted mother.
她是最无私的母亲
Stirring up the sediment
通过搅动泥沙
she exposes tiny plankton for her fry to feed on.
她把浮游生物翻出来给她的小鱼们吃
But the biggest challenge isn't feeding her babies
但喂养宝宝们并不是她最大的挑战
it's protecting them.
而是保护它们
Some cichlids have evolved into predators
一些鲷类已经进化成了食肉动物
and in this small pool there are few places to hide.
而在这个小小的水塘里 它们鲜有地方可以藏身
From dawn until dusk,she must defend her brood.
从黎明到黄昏 她必须时刻保护她的孩子
She has no time to feed herself,
她没有时间让自己进食
and is getting weaker by the day.
随着日子流逝 她会越来越虚弱
But it's worth it.
但这是值得的
Without her help
没有她的努力
her young would never survive.
她的孩子们不可能存活下来
When they're a centimetre long
当它们长到1厘米时
they will fend for themselves.
他们将自谋生路
Until then
在那之前
this mother must give her all.
这位母亲必须奉献她的一切
An astonishing diversity of life has evolved in this valley.
令人惊叹的多样化生命在这座山谷里进化了出来
It's home to more unique species than anywhere else on the North American continent.
这个奇特物种的家园的物种数量比北美大陆其他任何地方都多
That's the exception to the norm.
这真是个意外惊喜
Most of this great desert
这片沙漠的大部分
is dominated by just a few hardy souls.
被仅仅几种顽强的生灵统领着
And one plant copes better than most
有一种植物又比大部分“统领”做得更好
the creosote bush
木榴油灌木
so-called because it smells like wood preservative.
之所以叫这个名字是因为它闻起来像木头的防腐剂
Locals call it la gobernadora
当地人叫它gobernadora
the governess.
意为女州长
And it governs for a very long time.
而它已经统领这里很久了
One plant is known to have survived for over 11,000 years.
这是一种已知的生存了一万一千多年的植物
It's brilliant at coping with drought.
它的抗旱能力十分出色
Tiny, resin-coated leaves
细小的油性叶片
drastically reduce water loss.
能大幅减少水分的流失
And its shallow roots quickly soak up any moisture
它的浅根能迅速吸收任何水分
stopping anything growing in between.
让其他任何植物都停止生长
Creosote has truly conquered this desert.
木榴油灌木确实征服了这片沙漠
Its success has been exploited by a creature that's addicted to creosote
它的成功被一种沉迷木榴油的动物所利用
the creosote bush grasshopper.
木榴油蚱蜢
It's one of the few animals that can stomach this plant.
这是少数能消化这种植物的动物之一
It's resinous leaves are indigestible to most animals
它的油性叶子是大多数动物都消化不了的
but this grasshopper eats nothing else.
但这种蚱蜢除此之外什么都不吃
It's even evolved to look like this plant to avoid becoming food itself.
它甚至进化得与木榴油灌木很像 来躲避天敌
Most of the bushes have their own resident male.
大部分灌木都有自己的雄虫居民
Their calls let other males know this bush is occupied.
它们通过鸣叫来告诉其他雄虫 这株灌木有主了
They're also very attractive to the opposite sex.
它们的鸣叫对异性也很有吸引力
This newly-arrived female is exactly what he's been waiting for.
这只新来的雌虫正是他恭候多时的
But they are not alone for long.
但它们独处的时间不会很长
Another male flies in.
另一只雄虫飞过来了
A female is worth fighting for.
为了妹子 打架也是值得的
He must throw his rival out of his bush.
它必须把对手扔出他的灌木丛
Easier said than done with so many legs.
用这么多腿打架 说起来容易做起来难
Victory for the resident male.
灌木的主人获胜
But he's just one of millions
但他只是这无尽木榴油灌木丛里
of battling grasshoppers in this endless expanse of creosote.
百万火拼蚱蜢中的一只
Hundreds of miles to the west
向西数百里
the vast Chihuahuan Desert meets great mountains.
广阔的奇瓦瓦沙漠与高大的山脉交界
These high sierras catch more rain than the desert below
这些高山获得的降雨量比下面的沙漠要多很多
enabling forests to grow.
让森林得以生长
Offering a refuge for a special plant with the hottest reputation.
森林则为一种有名的特殊植物提供了庇护所
Every autumn
每个秋天
Armida Elena Contreras Duron and her husband Eliazar
阿米达·艾琳娜·孔特雷拉·杜蓉和他的丈夫艾利萨
head out to their mountain ranch
都会前往他们的山区牧场
to pick wild chillies called chiltepin.
采摘一种叫做chiltepin的野生辣椒
我很庆幸我生活的地方
有chiltepin辣椒
这辣椒是山区的女王
没错
These plants might have a fiery nature
这些植物可能有刺激性
but they can be remarkably delicate.
但它们却非常纤弱
They don't like constant exposure to the desert sun.
它们不能长时间暴露在沙漠炽热的阳光下
But this woodland provides enough shade for them to thrive.
但这片林地有足够的阴凉供它们茁壮成长
6,000 years ago, this wild plant started a food revolution
六千年前 这种野生植物掀起了一场食物革命
when it was first domesticated here in Mexico.
当它在墨西哥的这片土地第一次被驯化的时候
It's given rise to thousands of varieties of chillies worldwide.
在世界范围类由它发展出了上千种不同的辣椒
And with fruit 20 times hotter than jalapenos
而且它比现在的墨西哥辣椒辣20倍
it gives a spectacular kick to Armida's cuisine.
它为阿米达的菜肴带来了惊人的口感
用辣椒做的酱汁
真的非常特别
我用5个西红柿
洋葱
大蒜
牛至叶
胡椒
少许糖
肉桂
以及丁香
And an awful lot of chillies.
还有非常多的辣椒
Every type of chilli has a unique flavour.
每种辣椒都有自己独特的风味
Chiltepins are particularly cherished
Chiltepin尤其受欢迎
because they are arrebatado
因为它们的味道很arrebatado
meaning rapid, or violent.
意思是迅猛和强烈
They're hot
它们很辣
but their heat subsides quickly
但它们的辣味会很快消失
and that's addictive.
那种感觉让人上瘾
你咀嚼它
纯粹的辣味
在口中迸发
没有其他东西能有这般风味
它的辣味非常强烈
To Armida and her family
对阿米达和她的家人来说
it's part of their national identity.
这是他们民族认同的一部分
我认为墨西哥菜
没了辣椒
那就不叫墨西哥菜了
These mountain forests
这里的山林
are one of the few places where wild chiltepin thrive.
是为数不多有野生Chiltepin辣椒生长的地区之一
And because of our love of this spicy plant
由于我们对这种辛辣植物的喜爱
its descendants have spread all around the world.
它们的派生种类被传播到了全世界
In the foothills to the west,
在西边的山脚下
the sun has shaped another desert
炎炎烈日塑造了另一片沙漠
that couldn't look more different.
没有哪个沙漠比它看起来更特别了
Stretching over 100,000 square miles
绵延10万多平方英里
the Sonoran Desert covers much of Northwest Mexico.
索诺兰沙漠覆盖了墨西哥西北部的大部分地区
And it's home to the most iconic desert plant of all
这里是最具代表性的沙漠植物的家园
the saguaro cactus.
仙人掌
The Sonoran Desert is hotter and drier than the Chihuahuan.
索诺兰沙漠比奇瓦瓦沙漠更加炎热和干旱
And one way to cope is to become gigantic.
应对炎热干燥的方法之一就是变得够大
Towering up to 18 metres
高达18米
saguaros can store great reserves of water.
仙人掌能储存大量的水分
During summer storms
在夏季风暴来临期间
a season's rain can fall in just a few hours.
一场夏雨能下几个小时
The saguaro is built to take advantage of this.
仙人掌能充分利用自身优势
Its shallow roots stretch as wide as the cactus is tall
它的浅根能向外延伸到与它高度相当的距离
and its split trunk allows it to expand like an accordion
它分裂的茎杆像手风琴一样展开
enabling the largest cacti
可以让最大的仙人掌
to absorb one tonne of water during one storm.
在一次暴雨期间能吸收一吨的水量
It's enough water to last for a year
这些水足够维持一年
making saguaros the lifeblood of this desert.
这让仙人掌成为了这片沙漠的命脉
Even in a drought year, saguaros bloom.
即使在干旱的年份 仙人掌也会开花
They're a magnet for wildlife.
它们能吸引野生动物
Almost every creature here relies on this plant
几乎这里所有的动物都依赖于这种植物
and not just as a source of food and moisture.
不仅有食物和水源
Most of the older cacti are pockmarked with nest holes
大部分老仙人掌身上都有洞巢
excavated by Gila woodpeckers.
都是吉拉啄木鸟凿出来的
But squatters often move in.
但总有赖皮抢占民宅
In this world of giants,
在这个巨型植物的世界中
it helps to be tiny.
小巧是有利的
Not much bigger than a sparrow,
比麻雀大不了多少
ferruginous pygmy owls easily squeeze into woodpecker holes.
锈色侏儒猫头鹰能轻松挤进啄木鸟的洞里
And this female has a family to feed.
这只雌鸟要养育一个家
Deep inside, chicks are safe.
在鸟洞深处 雏鸟们很安全
And not just from predators.
不仅能躲避掠食动物
Outside is 40 degrees...
也能躲避洞外40度的高温
but this plant's enormous stores of water
这种植物储存有大量的水
keep the interior up to eight degrees cooler than the surroundings.
能保持洞内温度比周围低8度
A vital refuge for a family of tiny owls
这是酷热天里
in the crippling heat of the day.
侏儒猫头鹰家庭的重要庇护所
At night
在晚上
the daytime heat is lost to the heavens.
白天的热量散失到了天上
With such clear skies and no light pollution
有如此纯净而没有灯光污染的天空
Northern Mexico is one of the best to stargaze.
墨西哥北部是地球上观赏星空最好的地方之一
Under the cooler conditions
在夜间凉爽的环境下
the desert comes alive.
沙漠变得充满了生机
Many animals switch to a night routine
很多动物都转换到了夜间行动
to avoid the heat of the day.
来避开白天的高温
Including one of Mexico's most infamous residents.
其中就有墨西哥最臭名昭著的动物之一
The scorpion.
蝎子
Mexico is home to the greatest diversity of scorpions on Earth
墨西哥市地球上蝎子种类最多的地方
and the Sonoran Desert is a stronghold.
索诺兰沙漠就是一个据点
But even fearsome predators must tread carefully.
但即便是可怕的掠食者也必须小心行事
Others are listening in.
有他人正在监听
In the desert, you've got to grab any opportunity for a meal
在沙漠里 你必须抓住任何进餐的机会
no matter how dangerous.
不论有多危险
Pallid bats have become scorpion-hunting specialists.
白蝙蝠已经成为了猎杀蝎子的专家
Their large ears are especially sensitive
它们硕大的耳朵及其灵敏
capable of hearing the footsteps of their prey.
能够听见猎物的脚步声
As long as this scorpion stays still
由于这只蝎子保持不动
it's safe.
所以它很安全
But this bat has another way of increasing its chances.
但蝙蝠还有一种增加捕食机会的方法
It stalks its prey.
它偷偷靠近它的猎物
The slightest flinch will give the scorpion away.
稍有退缩就会让蝎子逃脱
Its sting is no defence.
它的毒刺没有起到防御作用
Pallid bats are immune to scorpion venom.
白蝙蝠对蝎毒免疫
By learning how to hunt one of the desert's most common creatures
通过学习捕猎沙漠中最常见的动物之一
these bats have found a unique way to prosper in this difficult environment.
这些蝙蝠在这艰难的环境中找到了一条独特的繁盛之路
It's a big meal, too
这也是顿大餐
and a vital source of moisture in such a dry place.
这是在如此干燥的地方获取水分的重要途径
On the western edge of the Sonoran Desert
在索诺兰沙漠的西部边缘
daytime conditions couldn't be more extreme.
没有哪里的白天环境能比这里更极端的了
This is El Pinacate.
这里是艾尔-皮纳卡蒂
A landscape with a violent past.
一片有着炎酷狂烈历史的土地
Pitted with volcanic craters
坑坑洼洼布满了火山坑
and extensive lava flows.
和广阔的熔岩流
Temperatures can reach 56 Celsius.
气温可以达到56摄氏度
Years can pass without rain.
多年过去都没有降雨
In 1970
在1970年
astronauts on the Apollo 14 mission
执行阿波罗14号任务的宇航员
came here to test their lunar equipment
来到这里测试他们的探月装备
because the conditions have created a moonscape.
因为这里的条件创造了一个月表的环境
This is Mexico's driest region.
这里是墨西哥最干旱的地区
All the more surprising
更令人惊叹的是
as it borders the sea.
它竟与大海相接
The Sonoran Desert stretches for hundreds of miles along Mexico's Pacific coast
索诺兰沙漠沿着墨西哥的太平洋海岸线
and the Gulf of California.
和加利福利亚湾延伸了数百英里
These waters have helped shape this parched coastline.
这些海水帮助塑造了这条干燥的海岸线
Fed by the cold Californian current
在加利福利亚寒流的滋养下
these seas produce cool and dry onshore winds
这些海域产生了凉爽而干燥的向岸风
starving the land of moisture.
岸上缺少水汽
Clouds struggle to form
云层难以形成
creating a coastal desert that extends far out to sea.
于是就创造出了这片直逼大海的海岸沙漠
In the most isolated corner of the Gulf of California
在加利福利亚湾最偏僻的角落
is a true desert island.
有一座真正的沙漠岛屿
Isla San Pedro Martir.
圣佩德罗·马蒂尔岛
Giant cardon cacti
巨型耙状仙人掌
are one of the few things that can withstand the drought-ravaged conditions.
是少数几种能够承受干旱蹂躏的生物之一
There's no fresh water...
这里没有淡水
and few obvious opportunities for a meal.
也没有什么明显的食物
But it's home to an especially resilient resident.
但这里住着一种极为顽强的动物
The side-blotched lizard.
侧斑鬣蜥
Endemic to this island,
这是这座岛的特有种类
it's ancestors became isolated on this barren outcrop seven million years ago.
它的祖先在7百万年前被困在了这座贫瘠的岛屿上
Being marooned would have been a death sentence for most creatures
被困对于大多数生物来说等于被判了死刑
but this stowaway has made a remarkable success of being stranded
但这些被困者却成功存活了下来
because of a banquet found just offshore.
因为一场宴会就在岸边举办
The cold seas that created this desert island are some of the richest on earth.
造就了这座荒岛的寒冷海域却是地球上最富饶的地区
Nutrient-rich waters are forced to the surface around islands
富含营养物的水流被迫上升到岛屿周围的海面上
like Isla San Pedro Martir
就像圣佩德罗马蒂尔岛一样
fuelling an explosion of marine life.
推动的海洋生物的迅猛增长
In May
在五月
the island is transformed into one of the world's largest breeding colonies
这座岛就变成了这种恰如其名的鸟在世界上
of this aptly-named bird
最大的繁殖地之一
the blue-footed booby.
蓝脚鲣鸟
It's the lifeline this lizard has been waiting months for.
这是侧斑鬣蜥已经等候数月的“救命绳索”
Raising a family is a messy affair.
抚养一个家庭是件很繁琐的事情
Nests are littered with leftovers.
鸟巢里到处是残羹剩饭
And this lizard has learned to eat fish.
这只蜥蜴必须要学会怎么吃鱼
But to secure a meal, it has to be quick
为了保证不挨饿 它必须行动迅速
there's an awful lot of competition.
这里的竞争非常激烈
These birds have had an extraordinary impact on the lizards isolated on this island.
这些鸟对困在岛上的蜥蜴有着非同寻常的影响
With so few species to share this unusual bounty
这么少的物种一同分享这些难得的恩赐
they have completely overrun this place.
它们已经在这里完全泛滥了
This island has one of the world's highest densities of lizards
这个岛是世界上蜥蜴分布密度最高的地方之一
over 30 times more than the Mexican mainland.
其密度是墨西哥大陆的30倍
They are the ultimate proof
它们最终证明了
that even the most barren places can be bountiful.
即使是最贫瘠地方也能变得富饶充裕
If you can find a way,
只要你能找到一条生路
you really can thrive in Mexico's burning north.
你真的可以在墨西哥炎热的北部茁壮地发展
Mexico is blessed with an astonishing diversity of life.
墨西哥有着惊人的多样化生命
A country bursting with colour
这个色彩斑斓的
and the richest natural heritage
有着最丰富的自然遗产的
with a spirit and vibrancy found nowhere else on Earth.
以及充满了精神与活力的国度是地球上独一无二的
墨西哥拍摄日记
“猎杀蝎子的蝙蝠”
In making this episode,
在本集拍摄期间
the crew travelled to some of Mexico's remotest regions
摄制组探访了墨西哥最偏远的一些地去
capturing remarkable animal behaviour in the wild.
来捕捉野生动物们最惊艳的行动
But there was one exception
但有一个特例
pallid bats.
白蝙蝠
They cover many miles of desert every night
它们每晚的行迹都覆盖沙漠好几英里
hunting scorpions in the pitch-black
在漆黑的环境里捕猎蝎子
impossible to film under natural conditions.
在自然条件下不可能进行拍摄
So the crew teamed up with bat scientist Winifred Frick
所以摄制组与蝙蝠专家温妮弗莱德·弗里克合作
who studies how these bats feed in captivity.
她是探究如何圈养蝙蝠的科学家
With her help
有了她的帮助
they brought the desert into a special bat lab
他们将沙漠“搬”进了一个特殊的蝙蝠实验室
to hopefully film this rarely-seen behaviour.
以期望能拍到这种罕见的捕猎行动
This makeshift lab on the Baja Peninsula may not be remote
这个位于巴哈半岛的临时实验室可能并不远
but it's still presents problems for cameraman Luke Barnett.
但它依然给摄影师卢克·巴尼特带来了问题
It's dark, it's 40 degrees
这里很黑而且有40度高温
设备依然不能正常工作
stuff keeps not working
power supplies keep packing up,so
电力供应需要不断增加
it's can be a challenge.
这会是个挑战
While the finishing touches are put to the set
所有工作都已准备就绪
Winifred is looking after the stars of the show backstage.
温妮弗莱德正在“后台”照看我们的演出“明星”
I just think they're beautiful.
我觉得它们很漂亮
They've got these big ears
它们有大大的耳朵
they have this...almost this little piggy snout
它们有像小猪一样的鼻子
they've just got a lot of character to their face.
它们的脸上有很多特征
For her studies, Winifred catches wild bats
为了做研究 温妮弗莱德会捉一些野生蝙蝠
which she releases a few weeks later.
几周之后她会将它们放归自然
She feeds and weighs them every day
她每天都要给蝙蝠喂食和称重
to make sure they're healthy.
以确保它们是健康的
To understand their predatory behaviour for scorpions
为了了解它们的捕蝎行为
and understand...I mean, scorpions, they eat
以及了解它们所吃的蝎子
we have to bring them into the flight cage
我们必须把它们放进飞笼里
because you can't record that in the wild
因为你无法在野外做记录
we don't know where a scorpion is going to be and when the bat's going to hit it.
我们不知道蝎子会去哪以及蝙蝠何时会发动攻击
To enter the bat's world
为了进入蝙蝠的世界
the crew switch to night shifts
设置组开启了夜间模式
filming in complete darkness using infrared cameras.
在漆黑之中使用红外摄像机进行拍摄
But will the bats perform?
但蝙蝠会开始它们的表演吗？
Well, it's been quite slow, really,
进度真的很慢
cos the bats aren't used to the environment perhaps.
蝙蝠或许还不太适应这种环境
And the bats are somewhere in the corner.
蝙蝠都在角落里
I think they're all huddling.
我觉得他们全挤在一起
They've got a better idea, they've gone to sleep.
它们找到了一个好主意 它们要去睡觉了
Yeah
是的
midnight and we're all a bit tired and a bit hot.
大半夜我们都有点累而且还有点热
It ends up being an exhausting
最后大家都很疲惫
and fruitless first evening for them all.
第一晚我们没有一点收获
And a quiet few hours soon turns into a quiet few nights.
几小时的熬夜很快变成了整晚整晚的熬夜
Without knowing when a bat might strike
因为不知到蝙蝠何时会发动突袭
Luke and the team must stay alert.
卢克和队员们必须时刻警惕着
Easier said than done when working all night in 40-degree heat.
整晚在40度的高温下工作 说着容易做着难
We're losing you.
你要睡着了
I know.
我知道
The bats are resting. The bat biologist is resting.
蝙蝠正在休息 蝙蝠学家也正在休息
Must be the worst bit about being a bat biologist, not falling asleep.
不可以睡着一定是当蝙蝠学家最辛苦的一点
You find it hard?
你觉得这辛苦吗？
Yeah, it's funny, I'm actually not a night person.
是的 但很有趣 我确实不是个能熬夜的人
So my joke is I'm the world's worst bat biologist
所以我开玩笑 说我是世界上最糟的蝙蝠学家
cos I'm also claustrophobic.
因为我还患有幽闭恐惧症
So not a night person
所以我熬不了夜
I don't like to go into caves. Brilliant.
我不喜欢去洞穴 神奇吧
It's now just come up to six o'clock in the morning
现在刚到早上6点
and we started about five with great expectations.
我们5点就带着疲惫开始了
A few came down and circled around
有几只飞下来绕了几圈
but there wasn't a lot going on
但没有更多的行动
so it's very disappointing.
挺让人失望的
The bats never go hungry as Winifred feeds them every day.
之前蝙蝠不会挨饿 因为温妮弗莱德天天喂它们
But after five frustrating nights
但在5个令人沮丧的夜晚之后
the team needs to rethink.
团队需要再规划一下思路了
A raised set makes filming more manageable
升高沙台能让拍摄更容易操控
but Winifred thinks this is the problem.
但温妮弗莱德认为这会是个麻烦
We may have to accommodate them
我们可能不得不迁就他们
rather than hoping that they're going to accommodate us.
而不是寄希望于它们能迁就我们
I think make it work with the cameras and everything
我觉得要让设备都能有成效
trying to get the set down on to the ground level
把沙台降低到地面
will be the next thing to try.
是我们下一步要尝试的做法
Sure.
是的
We've had to lower the set
我们不得不降低了沙台
so hopefully now the bats will fly around much more over the top.
以希望蝙蝠能比之前有更多的飞行活动
It's not been a job that we really want to do
这并不是我们想做的工作
cos all we want to do is have a cold shower and sleep, so
因为我们只想冲个凉然后睡一觉
Yeah, another night coming up.
因为 又一个夜晚就要来了
With a more bat-friendly filming set
有了更友好的拍摄沙台
there's renewed hope.
希望也重新燃起
This looks awesome, you guys.
这看起来棒极了 伙计们
This looks like exactly where they'd be hunting out in the wild
这看起来就像是它们在野外狩猎的地方
and getting it down on the floor.
放到了地面
I think it's going to be really key
我认为这就是真正的关键所在
So I feel pumped.
我觉得很振奋
This looks good.
这看起来很好
As the bats start to stretch their wings
当蝙蝠开始张开翅膀时
they're already showing a lot more interest.
它们已经表现出了很大的兴趣
And Luke manages to get some great flying shots of these bats in hunting mode.
卢克拍下了一些蝙蝠在狩猎状态时的飞行姿态的极佳画面
It was much better today,
今天好多了
we lowered the set to the floor and it seemed to make a big difference
我们降低了沙台似乎造成了很大的变化
the bats are flying right over the set for a change
蝙蝠在变化后的沙台上飞来飞去
rather than around the outside, low to the ground, so...
不是在外围飞而是在贴地低飞
we're all feeling a bit more excited.
我们都觉得很振奋
But Luke still hasn't managed to film the key shot of a bat catching a scorpion.
但卢克还是没拍到蝙蝠捕捉蝎子的关键镜头
As wildlife cameramen know only too well
正如野生动物摄影师所熟知的
capturing behaviour takes patience.
捕捉动作画面需要耐心
With only a couple of days of filming left
只剩下几天的拍摄时间了
the bats finally settle in.
蝙蝠终于适应了这个环境
Look at that. Oh, look at that. He's moved back. Oh!
快看啊 他爬回来了 哦！
I can't believe he's just gone again.
我不敢相信它又攻击了一次
We just got a shot.
我们拍到了
That is such a relief.
这真是一种解脱
That makes me happy
这让我很开心
because it means that at last we've actually got
因为这意味着我们终于拍到了
What is looking like a sequence.
这就像个序列
Without that moment of capture, we'd have nothing.
没有那一瞬的抓拍 我们将功亏一篑
And there's behaviour that Winifred has never seen before.
而这个行为是温妮弗莱德从未见过的
When it comes in,it cups it straightaway.
当它一来 它直接罩住了它
Yeah.
是的
Yeah, look, she just makes that awesome tent with her wings and her tail.
她仅用她的翅膀和尾巴就做出了这个超棒的帐篷
And the only way out is teeth.
唯一的出口就是它的牙齿
We just never get to see this in the wild.
我们拍在野外从未见过这种场景
This is amazing.
难以置信
Oh, that is beautiful.
那真的好美
Off she goes.
她飞走了
It's time to take the bats back to their wild desert home.
是时候让蝙蝠回到它们在野外沙漠的家了
There... She's off.
它飞走了
It's been a unique glimpse into the life of one of Mexico's most secretive animals.
这只是墨西哥众多神秘动物的独特一瞥
翻译
SniperGUO