評論
打印
North of the tundra lies the Arctic Ocean, surrounded by three continents -- Europe, North America and Asia.
苔原以北是北冰洋，被三大洲包圍--歐洲、北美洲和亞洲。
In winter, it remains almost entirely frozen.
冬天，它幾乎完全凍結。
But as the spring sunshine finally reaches the northernmost part of the planet, the sea ice begins to break up.
但隨著春天的陽光終于到達地球上的最北端，海冰開始破裂。
This marks the start of the breeding season for male hooded seals.
對于雄性冠海豹而言，這標志著繁殖季節的開始。
When they're six years old, the males develop an inflatable nose.
當它們六歲時，雄性會長出一個可充氣鼻子。
They're ready to breed -- and the bigger their nose, the more attractive they will be to a female.
它們已經準備好繁殖--鼻子越大，對雌性越有吸引力。
And now this one is eager to prove it.
而現在這只冠海豹急于證明這一點。
A female has just given birth.
一只雌性剛生完孩子。
A mother spends a mere four days feeding milk to her pup, and then, and only then, will she be ready to mate again.
一位母親只花了四天時間給她的幼崽喂奶，然后到那時，也只有到那時，她才能準備好再次交配。
That is too long for an impatient youngster to wait around.
對于一個沒有耐心的年輕人來說，等待的時間太長了。
These females seem to have been claimed by a larger male.
這些雌性似乎正被一個更大的雄性占據。
But if this youngster is to breed this year, it's worth a try.
但如果這位年輕海豹今年就繁殖，值得一試。
An inflatable nose can also be used to intimidate a rival.
也可以使用充氣鼻子恐嚇對手。
His bravado pays off. He must now woo the receptive female.
它的虛張聲勢得到了回報。現在必須向善于傾聽的雌性求愛。
She seems unimpressed. But he has another trick.
她似乎不為所動。但它還有另一個技巧。
He has an expandable sac within his left nostril.
它的左鼻孔內有一個可擴張的囊。
What is her verdict?
她的最終決定是什么？
A sharp nip on the tail, and that means no.
雄海豹的尾巴上被狠狠咬了一口，這意味著不行。
With only one day in the year in which to mate, the female is understandably choosy.
一年中只有一天可以交配，可以理解雌性的挑剔。
And until the youngster has grown a more impressive balloon, he's unlikely to be chosen.
除非這個年輕人長出一個更令人印象深刻的冠狀鼻，否則，它不太可能被選中。
No wonder he's deflated.
難怪它泄氣了。
