[Elephants Rescued at Sea] -Lesson 32 / English in Today's World-
Two elephants swept out to sea have been saved by the Sri Lankan navy in the second such rescue in less than two weeks.
On Sunday, a navy patrol boat spotted the pair of elephants struggling to stay afloat and keep their trunks above water. The site was about one kilometer off the northeastern coast of Sri Lanka.
The navy worked with local wildlife officials for five hours to guide the stranded animals closer to shore. A video released by the navy shows the elephants being lassoed and towed. Once in shallow water, they walked back into the jungle, apparently unhurt.
The pair are believed to have been pushed out to sea by waves while crossing shallow lagoons. The Sri Lankan Navy carried out a similar rescue of a lone elephant earlier this month.
Sri Lanka is working on legislation to protect its elephants, whose population is shrinking rapidly due to habitat loss. (2017/7/25, NHK World)
[Discussion]
Hannah: I'm glad they were able to rescue those elephants. I wonder how they did it?
Sam: Yes - spotting an elephant is one thing, but rescuing it is quite another!
Hannah: This is the second time within a two-week period that elephants have been rescued while swimming off the coast. Do you think this happens often in Sri Lanka?
Sam: I don't know, but it does seem that way. It must be interesting for the solders in the boats.
Hannah: Elephants are a precious part of Sri Lanka's wildlife. It must have felt good to see them back on solid ground.
Sam: And after a five-hour rescue, it must have been pretty tiring too!
◆見出し
[Elephants Rescued at Sea]=[Elephants (that) have been rescued at sea.]=[Elephants were rescued at sea on Sunday.]
◆[the Sri Lanka Navy]スリランカ海軍/正式名称=[the Sri Lankan Navy]スリランカ海軍/通称(固有名詞) ⇒[the Sri Lankan navy]スリランカの海軍(普通名詞)
◆[earlier this month]⇒[the day before yesterday]-[yesterday]-[today]⇒[this month]=[later this month]
◆[at the sea]海辺/ビーチで⇒[at sea]海/大海/大海原/外洋で
■[rescue]救出
Two elephants swept out to sea have been saved by the Sri Lankan navy in the second such rescue in less than two weeks.
⇒The stranded skiers were saved in a dramatic helicopter rescue.
■[spot]…を見つける
On Sunday, a navy patrol boat spotted the pair of elephants struggling to stay afloat and keep their trunks above water.
⇒The submarine commander spotted the enemy ship through the periscope.
■[off]…から離れて/…の沖合
The site was about one kilometer off the northeastern coast of Sri Lanka.
⇒My parents live in a small house just off the highway.
【words and phrases】
-[sweep out] 掃き出す/押し流す=[push out]
-[spot] 見つける/見かける
-[afloat] 浮いて
-[stranded] (船が)座礁した/立ち往生した
-[lasso] (動物を)投げ縄で捕える
-[tow] (ロープなどで)引っ張る/(レッカー車などで)けん引する
-[lagoon] 砂州やサンゴ礁などに囲まれた湖/海に面した湖/潟/礁湖
-[legislation] 立法/法律(案)
-[habitat] 生息環境/生息地
-[periscope] 潜望鏡
-[highway] 幹線道路
