Animals Feel Emotions

Animals Feel Emotions. Written by Kira Freed.

动物也有情感 基拉·弗里德 著

Introduction. Do you think animals are capable of feeling love? I am convinced that animals feel love as well as many other emotions. Many pet owners and people who work with animals agree with me. However, many scientists do not go along with this idea. To them, what you and I consider animal emotions are really instincts. Instincts are built -in behaviors animals do without thinking that are designed to keep them alive.

前言 你觉得动物能感受到爱吗？ 我确信动物能感受到爱，也能感受到很多其他情感。 很多养宠物的人和和动物打交道的人都同意我的看法。 不过，很多科学家并不认同这个观点。 在他们看来，你我认为的动物情感其实只是本能。 本能是动物与生俱来、不用思考就能做出的行为，用来维持它们的生存。

In this book, you'll read amazing stories about animals that I believe show that they aren't just behaving on instinct. The stories include tales of loyalty, friendship, tenderness, compassion, and parental care. As you read, think about how humans would behave in similar situations. When you finish reading, I'm convinced you'll agree that animals can and do feel love.

在这本书里，你会读到几个动人的动物故事，我认为这些故事能说明动物的行为不只是出于本能。 这些故事里包含忠诚、友谊、温柔、同情还有亲子之爱。 你阅读的时候，可以想想人类遇到类似情况会怎么做。 等你读完，我相信你一定会同意：动物确实能感受到爱。

An Elephant's Dilemma Echo was the highest -ranking female in a herd of African elephants being filmed for a wildlife movie. Soon after she gave birth to a male calf, it became clear that the baby was unable to stand. His front legs were bent at the wrist joints and he couldn't straighten them. He kept raising himself up on his hind legs but couldn't get his front legs to work properly. Echo tried to lift the calf with her trunk, but he simply couldn't walk.

大象妈妈的两难 埃可是一群非洲象里地位最高的母象，它们当时正在拍摄一部野生动物纪录片。 它生下一头公象宝宝后，很快就发现宝宝没办法站起来。 象宝宝的前腿腕关节弯曲，根本没法伸直。 它一直试着用后腿把自己撑起来，可前腿就是不听使唤。 埃可用长鼻子试着把宝宝抬起来，可宝宝还是没法走路。

An elephant herd depends on its head female for leadership. It was soon time for the herd to move on to search for food, but the young calf would never be able to keep up since he couldn't walk. Echo didn't want to be separated from the herd, but she refused to abandon her new son, Eli. Elephants can survive for several days without food and water, but it's a big risk to stay in one place for too long. Echo had to choose between the herd and her son.

象群的所有行动都靠领头母象带领。 很快象群就得动身去寻找食物了，可没法走路的象宝宝根本跟不上队伍。 埃可不希望和象群分开，但它也不愿意抛下刚出生的儿子伊莱。 大象就算好几天不吃不喝也能活，可在一个地方待太久风险太大了。 埃可必须在象群和宝宝之间做出选择。

While most of the herd left to search for a new watering hole, Echo and her daughter Enid stayed with Eli. It was hot, and they were soon out of food and water. Echo and Enid managed to move Eli to a small mud hole to splash themselves in the calf with water. Again, Echo tried to get Eli to his feet, but he screamed. Because he couldn't stand, Eli was unable to nurse properly. The little guy was soon close to starving. Echo still did not abandon him.

大部分象都动身去新的水源地了，埃可和它的大女儿伊妮德留下来陪着伊莱。 天气很热，没过多久它们就没吃没喝了。 埃可和伊妮德费力地把伊莱挪到一个小泥坑边，给它身上泼凉水。 埃可再一次试着帮伊莱站起来，可伊莱疼得直叫。 因为站不起来，伊莱没办法好好喝奶。 小家伙很快就快饿死了。 可埃可还是没有抛下它。