TEDWomen 2018
Lucy Cooke: Sloths! The strange life of the world's slowest mammal
露西·库克: 树懒！世界上最慢的哺乳动物的奇怪生活
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树懒已经在这个星球上生活了4000多万年。它们成功的秘诀是什么？在这次有趣的演讲中，动物学家露西·库克带我们走进世界上最慢的哺乳动物的奇特生活，并展示了我们可以从它们的巧妙适应中学到什么。
Lucy Cooke - Zoologist, author, explorer
In books, TV shows and even an annual sloth calendar, Lucy Cooke shares unexpected truths about animals. Full bio
In books, TV shows and even an annual sloth calendar, Lucy Cooke shares unexpected truths about animals. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
Hello.
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大家好。
00:14
Well, I'm here to talk to you
about my animal muse:
about my animal muse:
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我今天想和大家讲讲
我的动物界缪斯：
我的动物界缪斯：
00:19
the sloth.
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树懒。
（笑声）
00:20
(Laughter)
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00:23
I've been documenting the strange lives
of the world's slowest mammal
of the world's slowest mammal
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我一直在记录这个世界上
最慢的哺乳动物的奇特生活，
最慢的哺乳动物的奇特生活，
并持续了十年之久。
00:27
for the last 10 years.
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00:29
I still remember the first time I saw one.
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我仍然记得第一次见到树懒时的情景。
我被它们怪异的生物特点迷住了。
00:31
I was fascinated by their freaky biology.
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换句话说，有什么理由不去喜爱一种
00:36
I mean, what's not to love
about an animal that's born
about an animal that's born
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00:39
with a fixed grin on its face?
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天生会咧嘴笑的动物呢？
（笑声）
00:41
(Laughter)
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00:43
And the need to hug.
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而且它们生来就想去拥抱。
00:45
Audience: Awww.
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观众：噢。
00:47
But sloths are massively misunderstood.
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但是树懒被深深地误解了。
它们背负着罪恶的名声，
00:52
They've been saddled with a name
that speaks of sin
that speaks of sin
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并因懒散的生活方式而受到谴责，
00:55
and damned for their languorous lifestyle,
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在快节奏的生存竞争中，
人们似乎认为
人们似乎认为
00:58
which people seem to think
has no place amongst the fittest
has no place amongst the fittest
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这种动物不可能生存下去。
01:02
in the fast-paced race for survival.
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01:05
Well, I'm here to tell you
that we've got this animal all wrong --
that we've got this animal all wrong --
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我想要告诉大家的是，
我们完完全全误解了它，
我们完完全全误解了它，
理解关于树懒的事实
01:10
and how understanding
the truth about the sloth
the truth about the sloth
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也许会帮助我们拯救
这个家一般的星球。
这个家一般的星球。
01:13
may help save us and this planet
we both call home.
we both call home.
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01:19
I traced sloth-based slander
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对树懒的诽谤可以追溯到
一位名叫瓦尔德斯的
西班牙征服者那里，
西班牙征服者那里，
01:22
back to a Spanish
conquistador called Valdés,
conquistador called Valdés,
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他在自己的《新世界百科全书》中
首次对树懒进行了描述。
首次对树懒进行了描述。
01:26
who gave the first description of a sloth
in his encyclopedia of the New World.
in his encyclopedia of the New World.
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他说树懒是
01:31
He said the sloth was
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“世界上已知的最愚蠢的动物…
01:33
"the stupidest animal
that can be found in the world ...
that can be found in the world ...
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我从没见过如此丑陋
或更一无是处的动物。”
或更一无是处的动物。”
01:36
I have never seen such an ugly animal
or one that is more useless."
or one that is more useless."
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（笑声）
01:42
(Laughter)
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01:43
Tell us what you really think, Valdés.
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瓦尔德斯，请告诉我们你的真实想法。
（笑声）
01:45
(Laughter)
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01:47
I'd like to have a word
about Valdés's drawing skills.
about Valdés's drawing skills.
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我想对瓦尔德斯的绘画技术评论几句。
（笑声）
01:51
(Laughter)
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01:53
I mean, what is that?
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更直白点说，这画的是什么啊？
（笑声）
01:56
(Laughter)
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我从未见过比这更没价值的树懒画像了。
01:58
I've never seen an illustration
of a sloth that's more useless.
of a sloth that's more useless.
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(笑声)
02:01
(Laughter)
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但往好处想，
02:02
But I mean, on the plus side,
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他给了树懒一张和人类相似的脸，
02:04
he has given the sloth
a remarkably humanlike face,
a remarkably humanlike face,
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而树懒的脸的确非常像人脸。
02:06
and sloths do have remarkably
humanlike faces.
humanlike faces.
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02:10
This sloth I photographed in Costa Rica,
I think looks a lot like Ringo Starr.
I think looks a lot like Ringo Starr.
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我在哥斯达黎加拍摄的这只树懒，
长得很像林戈·斯塔尔。
长得很像林戈·斯塔尔。
（笑声）
02:16
(Laughter)
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但树懒和披头士乐队之间
确实有着不可思议的相似之处。
确实有着不可思议的相似之处。
02:17
But then, sloths do bear an uncanny
resemblance to the The Beatles.
resemblance to the The Beatles.
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（笑声）
02:22
(Laughter)
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尤其是这只像保罗的树懒。
02:26
Particularly pleased
with Paul, actually, on there.
with Paul, actually, on there.
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02:30
But like The Beatles,
sloths are also extremely successful.
sloths are also extremely successful.
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但就像披头士乐队那样，
树懒同样非常成功。
树懒同样非常成功。
它们起源于一种古老的哺乳动物系，
其中曾包含多个物种，
其中曾包含多个物种，
02:36
They come from an ancient line of mammals,
and there were once dozens of species
and there were once dozens of species
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包括大地懒，它有一头小象那么大，
02:40
including the giant ground sloth,
which was the size of a small elephant
which was the size of a small elephant
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是为数不多的大到能吃下整个牛油果
02:44
and one of the only animals big enough
to eat avocado pits whole
to eat avocado pits whole
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并传播其种子的动物之一。
02:48
and disperse them.
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02:51
So ...
(Laughter)
(Laughter)
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所以…
（笑声）
（笑声）
02:53
Some of you have worked it out already.
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你们有些人已经意识到了。
（笑声）
02:55
(Laughter)
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这意味着若没有树懒，
02:56
That means that without sloths,
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如今的吐司上可能就没有牛油果，
02:58
there might be no avocado on toast today,
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这会让各地的嬉皮士在
吃早餐时顿失乐趣。
吃早餐时顿失乐趣。
03:01
leaving hipsters everywhere
totally bereft at breakfast.
totally bereft at breakfast.
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（笑声）
03:05
(Laughter)
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（掌声）
03:07
(Applause)
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如今，有六种存活的树懒物种，
它们可以被分为两类。
它们可以被分为两类。
03:13
Today, there are six surviving species,
and they fall into two groups.
and they fall into two groups.
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其中有三趾树懒，
03:17
You've got your Bradypus
three-toed sloths,
three-toed sloths,
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它们拥有披头士的发型
和蒙娜丽莎的微笑。
和蒙娜丽莎的微笑。
03:19
they're the ones with the Beatles haircuts
and the Mona Lisa smiles.
and the Mona Lisa smiles.
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03:24
Then, there are the two-toed sloths.
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另外还有两趾树懒。
03:27
They look a little bit more like a cross
between a Wookiee and a pig.
between a Wookiee and a pig.
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它们看起来更像是
伍基人和猪的杂交品种。
伍基人和猪的杂交品种。
03:31
They live in the jungles
of Central and South America,
of Central and South America,
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它们生活在中美洲和南美洲的丛林里，
并且数量众多。
03:34
and they're extremely prolific.
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曾经有项针对1970年代
03:36
There was a survey
that was done in the 1970s
that was done in the 1970s
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巴拿马热带森林的研究，
03:39
in a Panamanian tropical forest
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发现树懒是数量最多的大型动物。
03:41
that found that sloths were the most
numerically abundant large animal.
numerically abundant large animal.
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它们占据了哺乳动物生物量的四分之一。
03:46
They took up one quarter
of the mammalian biomass.
of the mammalian biomass.
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树懒的数量实在惊人，
03:50
Now, that's an awful lot of sloths
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这意味着它们确实有正确的生存之道。
03:53
and suggests they're doing
something very right indeed.
something very right indeed.
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03:58
So what if, rather than deriding
the sloth for being different,
the sloth for being different,
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所以，与其嘲笑树懒的与众不同，
我们向它们取点经也许会更好？
04:05
we tried to learn from it instead?
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04:09
We humans are obsessed with speed.
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我们人类痴迷于速度。
04:13
Busyness is a badge of honor,
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忙碌是荣誉的勋章，
当我们追求快捷时，
便利胜过质量。
便利胜过质量。
04:15
and convenience trumps quality
in our quest for quick.
in our quest for quick.
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04:20
Our addiction to the express life
is choking us and the planet.
is choking us and the planet.
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我们对快节奏生活的沉迷
正在使我们和这个星球窒息。
正在使我们和这个星球窒息。
04:26
We idolize animals like the cheetah,
the "Ferrari of the animal kingdom,"
the "Ferrari of the animal kingdom,"
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我们崇拜像猎豹这样的动物，
“动物王国的法拉利”
“动物王国的法拉利”
能在三秒内完成从0到60的加速动作。
04:32
capable of doing naught to 60
in three seconds flat.
in three seconds flat.
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04:36
Well, so what?
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但这又怎样？
04:38
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
（掌声）
04:42
(Applause)
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04:46
So what?
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又能怎样？
树懒却截然不同，
04:47
The sloth, on the other hand,
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在风的助推下，它可以达到
04:48
can reach a leisurely 17 feet a minute
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每分钟17英尺的速度。
04:52
with the wind behind it.
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（笑声）
04:54
(Laughter)
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04:57
But being fast is costly.
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但高速需要付出高昂的代价。
猎豹速度很快，但需要牺牲力量。
04:59
The cheetah is speedy,
but at the expense of strength.
but at the expense of strength.
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它们不能冒险打架，
05:03
They can't risk getting in a fight,
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因此，它们九次捕猎中会有一次
输给鬣狗等更优秀的掠食者。
输给鬣狗等更优秀的掠食者。
05:05
so they lose one in nine kills
to tougher predators like hyenas.
to tougher predators like hyenas.
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难怪它们在发笑。
05:09
No wonder they're laughing.
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（笑声）
05:11
(Laughter)
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树懒则完全相反，
05:12
The sloth, on the other hand,
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采取了一种更隐秘的方式去进食。
05:13
has taken a more stealthy
approach to dinner.
approach to dinner.
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它们通过捕获和食用
05:16
They survive by capturing and consuming
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静态的叶子来生存。
05:20
static leaves.
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（笑声）
05:22
(Laughter)
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但是想想看，
树叶不愿意像羚羊那样被吃掉，
树叶不愿意像羚羊那样被吃掉，
05:24
But you see, leaves don't want
to be eaten any more than antelope do,
to be eaten any more than antelope do,
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所以叶子中富含毒素，很难被消化。
05:27
so they're loaded full of toxins
and very hard to digest.
and very hard to digest.
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为了消化树叶，
05:31
So in order to consume them,
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树懒也不得不成为一名运动员——
05:32
the sloth has also
had to become an athlete --
had to become an athlete --
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一名消化运动员。
05:36
a digesting athlete.
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（笑声）
05:38
(Laughter)
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树懒的秘密武器是一个四腔胃
05:39
The sloth's secret weapon
is a four-chambered stomach
is a four-chambered stomach
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和大量的时间。
05:42
and plenty of time.
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它们的消化速度
是所有哺乳动物中最慢的。
是所有哺乳动物中最慢的。
05:44
They have the slowest
digestion rate of any mammal.
digestion rate of any mammal.
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它们会花上一个月的时间
去消化一片树叶，
去消化一片树叶，
05:47
And it can take up to a month
to process a single leaf,
to process a single leaf,
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这让它们的肝脏有足够的时间
来处理这些毒素。
来处理这些毒素。
05:51
which gives their liver plenty of time
to process those toxins.
to process those toxins.
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05:55
So, sloths aren't lazy.
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所以树懒并不懒。
06:00
No, they're busy.
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相反，它们很忙碌。
06:02
Digesting.
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忙着消化。
06:04
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
是的，非常忙。
06:05
Yeah, really busy.
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（笑声）
06:07
(Laughter)
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努力工作，这只树懒，
它正在非常努力地工作。
它正在非常努力地工作。
06:09
Hard at work, that sloth,
very hard at work.
very hard at work.
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当然，树叶没有多少热量，
06:12
And of course, leaves
have little calorific value,
have little calorific value,
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所以树懒已经进化到
在消化时消耗尽可能少的能量。
在消化时消耗尽可能少的能量。
06:15
so sloths have evolved to spend
as little energy as possible.
as little energy as possible.
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它们所消耗的能量只相当于
类似大小的哺乳动物的10%，
类似大小的哺乳动物的10%，
06:19
They do about 10 percent of the work
of a similar-sized mammal
of a similar-sized mammal
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并且每天只摄入100卡路里，
06:23
and survive on as little
as 100 calories a day,
as 100 calories a day,
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这都要归功于其独特的适应力。
06:27
thanks to some ingenious adaptations.
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06:31
The Bradypus, three-toed sloths,
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慢性子的三趾树懒，
它们的颈骨比任何哺乳动物都要多，
06:32
they've got more neck bones
than any other mammal,
than any other mammal,
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甚至比长颈鹿还多。
06:35
even a giraffe.
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这意味着它们可以270度地转头，
06:36
Which means they can turn their head
through 270 degrees
through 270 degrees
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观察周围的情况，
06:41
and graze all around them,
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无需费力去移动身体。
06:43
without having to actually bother
with the effort of moving their body.
with the effort of moving their body.
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（笑声）
06:47
(Laughter)
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06:50
It also means that they are
surprisingly good swimmers.
surprisingly good swimmers.
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这也意味着它们是惊人的游泳好手。
树懒能在水中快速移动，
06:53
Sloths can bob along in water
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其速度比陆地移动速度快三倍，
06:56
three times faster
than they can move on land,
than they can move on land,
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因胃胀气
06:59
kept afloat by ...
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而浮动。
07:01
trapped wind.
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（笑声）
07:03
(Laughter)
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所以…
07:05
So --
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（笑声）
07:06
(Laughter)
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树懒是我们已知的唯一一种
不会肠胃胀气的哺乳动物。
不会肠胃胀气的哺乳动物。
07:07
sloths are the only mammal that we know of
that don't do flatulence.
that don't do flatulence.
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当它们需要排出气体时，
07:11
When they need to expel gas,
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气体实际上会被重新吸收到血液中，
07:13
it's actually reabsorbed
into their bloodstream
into their bloodstream
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然后作为一种“口腔屁”从口排出。
07:16
and expelled orally
as a sort of mouth fart.
as a sort of mouth fart.
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（笑声）
07:19
(Laughter)
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07:23
Turning their lives upside down
saves further energy.
saves further energy.
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它们倒挂的生活方式
可以节省更多的能量。
可以节省更多的能量。
它们的骨骼肌大约为
陆地哺乳动物的一半。
陆地哺乳动物的一半。
07:27
They have about half the skeletal muscle
of a terrestrial mammal.
of a terrestrial mammal.
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它们并没有那么多的伸肌，
07:31
They don't really have so many
of the extensor muscles
of the extensor muscles
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也就是负重肌；
07:35
that are the weight-bearing muscles;
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取而代之的，
它们依靠牵缩肌来拉动自己。
它们依靠牵缩肌来拉动自己。
07:37
instead, they rely on retractor muscles
to pull themselves along.
to pull themselves along.
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07:41
They have long, hooked claws
and a high fatigue resistance,
and a high fatigue resistance,
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它们有长长的、钩状的爪子
和很强的抗疲劳能力，
和很强的抗疲劳能力，
所以它们可以像快乐的毛茸茸吊床一样，
07:45
so they can literally hook on and hang
like a happy, hairy hammock
like a happy, hairy hammock
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一挂就是好几个小时。
07:50
for hours on end.
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树懒在倒挂时
几乎可以做任何事情。
几乎可以做任何事情。
07:52
And sloths can do almost anything
in this inverted position.
in this inverted position.
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它们可以睡觉，吃饭，甚至生育。
07:56
They sleep, eat and even give birth.
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它们独特的喉咙和血管，
07:59
Their throat and blood vessels
are uniquely adapted
are uniquely adapted
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能够克服重力地
输送血液和吞咽食物。
输送血液和吞咽食物。
08:02
to pump blood and to swallow food
against the force of gravity.
against the force of gravity.
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它们的肋骨上有粘性物质，
08:06
They have sticky bits on their ribs
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可以防止巨大的胃挤压肺部。
08:09
that prevent their enormous stomach
from crushing their lungs.
from crushing their lungs.
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08:13
And their fur grows
the opposite direction,
the opposite direction,
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它们的皮毛逆向生长，
08:16
so they can drip dry
after a tropical drenching.
after a tropical drenching.
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所以在热带地区淋湿后水可以滴干。
08:20
The only problem is,
if you turn a sloth the other way up,
if you turn a sloth the other way up,
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唯一的问题是，如果你把树懒倒过来，
重力会剥夺它们的尊严。
08:25
gravity removes its dignity.
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观众：噢。
08:28
Audience: Awww.
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它们站不直。
08:30
They can't hold themselves upright.
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所以它们拖着身体走，
就像在平地上登山一样。
就像在平地上登山一样。
08:32
And so they drag their bodies along
as if mountaineering on a flat surface.
as if mountaineering on a flat surface.
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08:37
And I think this is why
the early explorers like Valdés
the early explorers like Valdés
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我想这就是为什么像瓦尔德斯
这样的早期的探险家
这样的早期的探险家
对它们误解很深的原因，
08:40
thought so poorly of them,
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08:42
because they were observing sloths
the wrong way up and out of context.
the wrong way up and out of context.
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因为他们观察树懒的方式是错误的，
并且脱离了实际场景。
并且脱离了实际场景。
08:48
I've spent many happy hours
mesmerized by moving sloths.
mesmerized by moving sloths.
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在观察树懒移动时，
我度过了很多快乐时光。
我度过了很多快乐时光。
它们肌肉的匮乏
并没有妨碍力量和灵活性。
并没有妨碍力量和灵活性。
08:53
Their lack of muscle hasn't impeded
their strength or agility.
their strength or agility.
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08:57
Nature's zen masters of mellow
move like "Swan Lake" in slow mo --
move like "Swan Lake" in slow mo --
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大自然的禅师们老练的动作
就像慢动作中的“天鹅湖”——
就像慢动作中的“天鹅湖”——
（笑声）
09:03
(Laughter)
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并有太极大师一般的核心控制。
09:04
with the core control of a tai chi master.
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09:08
This one has fallen asleep mid-move,
which is not uncommon.
which is not uncommon.
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这只树懒在移动时睡着了，
这并不罕见。
这并不罕见。
（笑声）
09:13
(Laughter)
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09:17
But you're probably wondering:
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但你可能会好奇：
正在消化树叶的倒垂着的树懒
如何避免被吃掉？
如何避免被吃掉？
09:19
How does a dangling bag
of digesting leaves avoid being eaten?
of digesting leaves avoid being eaten?
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09:23
Good question.
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这是个好问题。
这是树懒的主要捕食者之一。
09:24
Well, this is one
of the sloth's main predators.
of the sloth's main predators.
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美洲角雕。
09:26
It's the harpy eagle.
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09:28
It can fly at speeds
of up to 50 miles per hour,
of up to 50 miles per hour,
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它能以50英里每小时的速度飞行，
爪子有灰熊那么大，
09:31
has talons the size of a grizzly bear's,
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视力敏锐，
09:34
razor-sharp eyesight,
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那圈羽毛会使声音汇集，
09:35
and that ring of feathers focuses sound
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所以它能听到最细微的树叶沙沙声。
09:38
so that it can hear
the slightest leaf rustle.
the slightest leaf rustle.
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09:41
The sloth, on the other hand,
has poor hearing, bad eyesight,
has poor hearing, bad eyesight,
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树懒却完全相反，
听力糟糕，视力不好，
听力糟糕，视力不好，
逃离危险显然不是一项可行选择。
09:46
and running from danger
is clearly not an option.
is clearly not an option.
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09:50
No, they survive by wearing
an invisibility cloak
an invisibility cloak
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不，它们靠穿一件
哈利波特那样的隐形衣生存。
09:54
worthy of Harry Potter.
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09:56
Their fur has grooves
that attract moisture
that attract moisture
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它们的皮毛有吸引水分的凹槽，
就像海藻的微型水培园，
10:00
and act as tiny hydroponic
gardens for algae,
gardens for algae,
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因此也吸引了大量的无脊椎动物。
10:03
and they also attract
a host of invertebrates.
a host of invertebrates.
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所以它们本身便是
缓慢移动的微型生态系统。
缓慢移动的微型生态系统。
10:06
So they are their own slow-moving,
miniature ecosystem.
miniature ecosystem.
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它们与树木融为一体。
10:10
They become one with the trees.
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我们认为它们的动作非常缓慢，
10:13
And we think that
their movements are so slow,
their movements are so slow,
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所以能逃过巨大的美洲角雕
10:16
they slip under the radar
of the monstrous harpy
of the monstrous harpy
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在树荫上方盘旋时搜索猎物的雷达。
10:18
as it's flying about the canopy,
scanning for action.
scanning for action.
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10:23
Sloths are stealth ninjas,
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树懒是隐秘的忍者，
它们很少离开安全的树荫——
10:25
and they rarely leave
the safety of the canopy --
the safety of the canopy --
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除了排便时，
10:28
except to defecate,
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它们每周在树下进行一次排便。
10:30
which they do about once a week
at the base of a tree.
at the base of a tree.
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10:34
Now, this risky and energetic behavior
has long been a mystery,
has long been a mystery,
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长期以来，这种冒险而又
充满活力的行为一直是个谜，
充满活力的行为一直是个谜，
为了研究它们为何如此行动
诞生了很多理论。
诞生了很多理论。
10:38
and there are lots of theories
as to why they do it.
as to why they do it.
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但我认为它们是在给潜在的伴侣
留下隐秘的气味信息。
留下隐秘的气味信息。
10:41
But I think they're leaving surreptitious
scented messages for potential mates.
scented messages for potential mates.
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10:48
Because, you see, sloths are generally
silent, solitary creatures,
silent, solitary creatures,
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因为，试想一下，树懒通常是
沉默又孤独的生物，
沉默又孤独的生物，
只有在雌性发情的时候才是例外。
10:53
except for when the female is in heat.
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它们会爬到树顶为交配尖叫。
10:56
She will climb to the top of a tree
and scream for sex.
and scream for sex.
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11:01
In D-sharp.
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用升D调。
（笑声）
11:02
(Laughter)
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不相信我？
11:04
Don't believe me?
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11:07
(Sound of sloth scream)
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（树懒的尖叫声）
11:09
D-sharp.
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升D调。
11:11
This and only this note
will get the male's attention.
will get the male's attention.
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只有这个信号才能引起雄性的注意。
它模仿了蝇霸鹟的声音。
11:14
It mimics the sound
of the kiskadee flycatcher.
of the kiskadee flycatcher.
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所以雌性仍然很隐蔽，
11:16
So the female remains covert,
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即便当它们为寻找配偶
放声大叫时也是如此。
放声大叫时也是如此。
11:18
even when yodeling for sex
at the top of her lungs.
at the top of her lungs.
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11:22
Her clandestine booty calls
will carry for miles across the canopy,
will carry for miles across the canopy,
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她隐秘的交配信号将会传至
几英里外的树冠上，
几英里外的树冠上，
雄性便会慢慢靠近。
11:27
and males will beat
a slow path towards her.
a slow path towards her.
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（笑声）
11:30
(Laughter)
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我想她粪便里的气味信息会
帮助罗密欧爬上正确的树，
帮助罗密欧爬上正确的树，
11:35
I think scented messages in her dung
will help send Romeo up the right tree
will help send Romeo up the right tree
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这样他就不会浪费宝贵的精力
去攀登错误的树。
去攀登错误的树。
11:40
so that he doesn't waste precious energy
scaling the wrong one.
scaling the wrong one.
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11:44
Sex, by the way, is the only thing
that sloths do swiftly.
that sloths do swiftly.
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顺便说一句，交配是树懒唯一
能迅速完成的事情。
能迅速完成的事情。
我曾经在野外见过它们交配，
11:48
I've seen them do it in the wild,
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几秒钟内就结束了。
11:49
and it's over and done
with in a matter of seconds.
with in a matter of seconds.
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但，为什么要浪费
这么宝贵的精力在交配上呢，
这么宝贵的精力在交配上呢，
11:53
But then, why waste precious energy on it,
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毕竟花了这么长的旅途？
11:56
particularly after that journey?
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（笑声）
11:58
(Laughter)
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跟其他哺乳动物不同的是，
11:59
Unlike other mammals,
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树懒也不会浪费时间来保持恒温。
12:01
sloths don't also waste time maintaining
a constant warm body temperature.
a constant warm body temperature.
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来自太阳的能量是免费的，
12:06
Energy from the sun is free,
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所以它们像蜥蜴一样晒太阳，
12:08
so they bask in the sun like lizards
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在热带地区穿一件厚得不寻常
的外套以保持热量。
的外套以保持热量。
12:10
and wear an unusually thick coat
for the tropics to keep that heat in.
for the tropics to keep that heat in.
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树懒的新陈代谢非常慢。
12:15
Sloths have a freakishly low metabolism.
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我们认为这可能是
12:19
And we think that this might be
one of the reasons
one of the reasons
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它们会从可能会杀死其他动物的伤害中
12:22
that they can sometimes
recover from injuries
recover from injuries
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恢复过来的原因。
12:24
that would kill most animals.
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12:27
This sloth recovered
from a double amputation,
from a double amputation,
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这只树懒从截肢中恢复过来，
我还知道有些树懒甚至能在
12:30
and I've known sloths
that have managed to survive
that have managed to survive
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电源线触电中存活下来。
12:34
even power line electrocutions.
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12:36
And we now think that a low metabolism
may well be key to surviving extinction.
may well be key to surviving extinction.
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我们现在认为，低代谢水平很可能
是物种避免灭绝的关键。
是物种避免灭绝的关键。
12:42
Researchers at Kansas University
who were studying mollusks
who were studying mollusks
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堪萨斯大学的研究人员
在研究软体动物时发现，
在研究软体动物时发现，
可通过高新陈代谢预测
哪些种类的软体动物
哪些种类的软体动物
12:46
found that a high metabolism
predicted which species of mollusk
predicted which species of mollusk
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已经灭绝。
12:50
had gone extinct.
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12:53
Sloths have been around on this planet
in one shape or another
in one shape or another
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树懒在这个星球上以各种形态
存在了4000万年。
12:56
for over 40 million years.
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12:59
The secret to their success
is their slothful nature.
is their slothful nature.
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它们成功的秘诀在于其懒惰的天性。
13:04
They are energy-saving icons.
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它们是节能的象征。
13:09
And I founded the Sloth
Appreciation Society
Appreciation Society
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我成立了树懒欣赏协会，
以提倡和保护它们缓慢、稳定、
可持续的生活。
可持续的生活。
13:11
to both promote and protect
their slow, steady, sustainable lives.
their slow, steady, sustainable lives.
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13:18
I'm a pretty speedy character.
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我是个急性子。
13:21
I'm sure you've guessed.
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我相信你们都猜到了。
树懒使我明白了很多放慢节奏的好处。
13:22
And the sloths have taught me
a lot about slowing down.
a lot about slowing down.
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我们认为地球将会因此受益，
13:26
And I think that the planet would benefit
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假如我们都从它们的书中
慢慢地消化一片叶的话。
慢慢地消化一片叶的话。
13:29
if we all took a slowly digested
leaf out of their book.
leaf out of their book.
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13:34
How about we all embrace our inner sloth
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我们为何不放慢脚步，
拥抱内心的懒惰呢？
13:38
by slowing down,
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更加用心，
13:40
being more mindful,
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减少不必要的便利，
13:41
reducing wasteful convenience,
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节约能源，
13:44
being economical with our energy,
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创造性地回收利用，
13:47
recycling creatively
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与自然重新建立联系。
13:49
and reconnecting with nature.
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13:52
Otherwise, I fear,
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否则，我担心，
我们人类最终才是
13:55
it will be us humans that turn out to be
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“地球上已知的最愚蠢的动物。”
13:58
"the stupidest animals
that can be found in the world."
that can be found in the world."
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14:03
Thank you very much.
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谢谢！
14:05
May the sloth be with you!
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愿树懒与你同在！
（掌声）
14:06
(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Lucy Cooke - Zoologist, author, explorerIn books, TV shows and even an annual sloth calendar, Lucy Cooke shares unexpected truths about animals.
Why you should listen
Lucy Cooke is a New York Times best-selling author, award-winning documentary producer, presenter and National Geographic explorer with a master's in zoology from Oxford University. She is a passionate conservationist and champion of animal species that are often misunderstood. Her style is immersive, journalistic and unashamedly populist, mixing expert storytelling with a dash of humor to reach the widest possible audience. She began her presenting career hosting Freaks and Creeps for National Geographic, a show about strange species that get overlooked in favor of charismatic megafauna, and has hosted numerous shows for the BBC.
Cooke has a particular soft spot for sloths and founded the Sloth Appreciation Society to promote a greater understanding of their lazy lifestyle. She has produced a number of iconic viral sloth videos, Meet the Sloths, an award-winning international series for Animal Planet, two best-selling books -- A Little Book of Sloth and Life in the Sloth Lane -- and an annual calendar featuring her sloth photographs.
Cooke's latest book, The Truth About Animals, was shortlisted for the prestigious Royal Society prize and the AAAS young adult science prize. Nature calls it a "deeply researched, sassily written history of the biggest misconceptions, mistakes and myths we've concocted about the animal kingdom, spread by figures from Aristotle to Walt Disney."
Lucy Cooke | Speaker | TED.com