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They are notoriously shy around humans, beating their tails and chattering their teeth to try to warn us off before emitting loud whistles to tell other members of their colony to flee.
眾所周知，土撥鼠在人類面前很膽小。它們會敲打著尾巴，吱吱地磨著牙，以警告人類不要靠近。它們還會發出響亮的口哨以通知領域內的同胞逃離此處。
But when these alpine marmots see Matteo Walch, they scuttle to his side and show him nothing but affection.
但當這些高山土撥鼠遇見Matteo Walch時，它們涌到他的身邊，流露出的滿滿全是喜愛之情。
The eight-year-old built up a remarkable relationship with the creatures since first being taken to see them by his nature-loving family four years ago.
自從四年前被熱愛動物的家人帶著見到這群土撥鼠后，這個8歲的小男孩兒便與它們建立了深厚的感情。
The family return to visit the colony in Groslocker in the Austrian Alps for two weeks every year.
這家人每年都會來到位于奧地利阿爾卑斯山下的格羅斯洛克住兩周，探訪Matteo的動物朋友們。
Matteo’s father Michaela, said: 'Their friendship has lasted for more than four years now.
Matteo的爸爸Michaela說道：“他們之間的友誼已經持續四年多了。”
'He loves those animals and they are not at all afraid of Matteo because he has a feeling towards them and they understand that.
“他愛這些小動物們，而它們也完全不害怕他的存在，因為他對它們有一種感情，而它們也完全能領會。”
We go there every year now for two weeks - it’s amazing to watch the connection between a boy and his animal friends.’
“我們每年都去那里呆兩周——看到一個小男孩兒和動物朋友之間的情感聯系，這樣的感覺很美妙。”
Marmots stand at around 18cm tall and reach up to 50cm in length. Bizarrely, the animals are heavier in the autumn, when they can weigh up to 8kg, in comparison to 3kg in the spring months.
土撥鼠直立高度差不多有18cm，身長約50cm。奇怪的是，這種動物到了秋天便會增肥，能長到約8kg重，而春天僅3kg。
Michaela, a schoolteacher from Innsbruck, Austria, has uniquely captured the unique bond between Matteo and his marmot friends throughout the past four years.
Michaela是奧地利因斯布魯克的一位教師，他在過去的四年內拍了許多Matteo和土撥鼠朋友的照片。
He said: 'I could spend hours watching animals - it gives me a connection with nature and its life forms.
他說：“我能一連幾小時注視著動物們——它能讓我與自然和動物的生活方式產生聯系。”
'It’s great that I have been able to document the marmot’s natural behaviour around Matteo without making them afraid of me and my equipment.
“當我在拍攝Matteo和土撥鼠之間的自然行為時，它們一點兒也不怕我和我的器材。這真是太棒了。”
'I wanted to capture the animals exactly the way I see them - the way they behave among each other, in harmony with their surroundings.'
“我想把我所見到的動物最真實的樣子拍下來——我想拍出那種它們自然互動、和周圍一切和諧相融的感覺。”
It is clear from the pictures that Matteo and the marmots are totally comfortable in each other’s company.
從照片中可以看出，Matteo和他的土撥鼠朋友們相處得非常自然。
Michaela, 46, said: 'The picture of a curious animal approaching me is a thousand times more beautiful than the picture of any animal looking at me in fear before it takes flight.
46歲的Michaela說道：“一張小動物好奇接近我的照片，要比那些緊張地注視著我鏡頭、準備立刻逃跑的動物照片美麗一千倍。”
'This is how I try to picture the proudest, more beautiful and also the funniest moments, giving others the opportunity to enjoy the miraculous world of animals.’
“我便是這樣拍出那些最令人自豪、最美麗、同時也是最有趣的瞬間的。這樣，別人也能有機會去享受這不可思議的動物世界。”
