国家地理:残疾乌龟重获自由

Arava, the disabled tortoise is using her new set of wheels to get around in more ways than one. Keepers at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo say the 10-year-old Spurred Tortoise was fitted with custom wheels to overcome paralysis of her hind legs.
The 55-pound tortoise is unable to move herself forward with just her front legs, so the zoo staff built her a metal frame with two wheels that can be strapped around her shell.
“We don't really know the reason why it's paralyzed, why this tortoise is paralyzed. We tried to find out to determine what is the cause. We didn't find it. So instead of just leaving it to move only with her front legs, we invented if we may say so ,ur, wheels, that were attached to her rear legs and it's allowed, and supposed to move almost freely in the enclosure."
Yedvad says it's not that Arava has come out of her shell with her unique new wheelchair, but that a particularly amorous 10-year-old male has been after her since her arrival. But despite some improvement, Arava still finds it difficult at times to use the new device. The handicapped tortoise is not able to writhe herself without assistance and the employees at the zoo have to do it.
"The wheelchair is a little bit heavy so I hope in the future it will have a lighter one."
这只名叫Arava的残疾乌龟现在使用新装的轮子可以向不同的方向移动。耶路撒冷圣经动物园的管理员说，这只乌龟已经10岁了，由于后腿瘫痪，现在新安装了轮子以方便行动。
这只重达55磅的乌龟只用前腿无法前行，所以动物园的职工为她建造了一个带两个轮子的金属架，可以用绳子绑在龟壳上。
“我们不知道她为什么瘫痪了。我们试图找出原因，但是始终不明白。所以，我们就让她只用前腿移动了，我们发明了，或许可以这样说，我们发明了轮子，可以取代她的后腿。带着这个附件她仍然可以自由移动。”
Yedvad说，Arava肯出壳并不是因为她有新的轮椅，而是自从她来了之后，一只10岁的雄龟开始爱慕她，追求她。但是，虽然行动方面有些改善，但是，有时候Arava使用这个新的装备仍然有点困难。没有动物园员工的帮助，这只残废的乌龟没办法自己来回折腾。
“这个轮椅太重了，所以我希望今后能有一个轻一点的。”