洛斯大草原，南美洲无边无际的平原， Los Llanos, the endless plains of South America,
这片迷人大陆上最令人惊讶和最鲜为人知的地区之一 one of the most surprising and least known regions of this fascinating continent.
野性拉丁美洲
平原
新世界的天堂，大部分由广阔的平原组成， The paradise that is the new world consists in large part of a vast plain,
一个被水覆盖的非凡的地方，使大片的开阔土地肥沃多产 an extraordinary place permeated with water that makes huge tracks of open land fertile and productive.
现在，是一个特殊的时刻 Right now, it's a special time.
大草原的河流和小溪已经泛滥， The rivers and streams of the Llanos have overflowed,
创造了一个季节性潮湿的腹地，其特殊规律影响着居住在其中的所有生物的生活 creating a seasonal soaked hinterland whose special laws affect the lives of all the beings that inhabit it.
在几个月的时间里，平原的相当大一部分被淹没，被一层闪闪发光的水膜所覆盖 For a few months, a considerable portion of the plains is submerged, covered by a shimmering film of water.
天空被充满水的平原反射， The sky reflects off the saturated plains,
现在，一面玻璃镜子一次又一次被鸟脚激起涟漪 now a glassy mirror shattered time and time again by bird's feet
还有鹿蹄 and deer hooves.
这个世界中独一无二的世界是全美洲最丰富、生物多样性和生产力最强的湿地之一 This unique world within a world is one of the richest, most biodiverse and productive wetlands in all America.
哥伦比亚和委内瑞拉之间一望无际的平原 The endless plains that stretch between Colombia and Venezuela.
生命在这个包罗万象的伊甸园中蓬勃发展，没有国界的束缚 Life thrives in this all-encompassing Eden, boundlessly unfettered by borders.
湿地鸟类，如苍鹭、琵鹭、 Wetland birds such as herons, spoonbills,
朱鹭正在享受田园般的幸福时光 and ibis are enjoying a moment of idyllic bliss.
食物丰富，随处可见 Food is plentiful and everywhere to be found.
因此，这些鸟聚集在一起，以数百甚至数千只个体为一组 So the birds come together in groups of hundreds or even thousands of individuals.
洪水泛滥的河岸上的大树，变成了许多种类的巴比伦城堡， The large trees on the flooded riverbanks turn into Babylonian citadels of many species,
五彩缤纷的多民族大熔炉 colourful multi-ethnic melting pots.
它们就像巨大的东方集市 They're like great eastern bazaars.
鸟儿是它们最吵闹、最大胆的邻居， And the birds are their noisiest, boldest neighbours,
直到空中之城一点点腾空，一切归于寂静 until the aerial city is vacated little by little and all is left silent.
早晨，这个树状大都市的居民们分散在广阔的平原上开始它们的日常工作 In the mornings, the residents of the arboreal metropolis spread out over the vast plain to begin their daily tasks.
但在所有栖息在这个天堂的生物中， But among all the creatures that inhabit this paradise,
最壮观的，既不像鸟那样喧闹，也不像鸟那样色彩斑斓 the most imposing is neither as noisy nor as colourful as the birds.
这是一种奇怪的动物，看起来和河马的微缩版没什么两样 It's a curious animal that looks not unlike a hippopotamus in miniature.
它头部的设计非常特别， The design of its head is very particular,
这清楚地表明了它的半水生生活方式 a clear indication of its semi-aquatic way of life.
它的鼻子、眼睛和小耳朵都长在头顶上， Its nose, eyes, and small ears are all positioned on the top of its head,
一种能让它在身体其它部分完全淹没的情况下，仍能看、听、呼吸 an adaptation that allows it to see, hear, and breathe while the rest of its body is wholly submerged.
水豚 A capybara.
尽管它和巨物有短暂的相似之处， And despite its passing resemblance to the great,
众所周知，水豚是一种脾气暴躁的非洲食草动物，它实际上是不同老鼠的大亲戚 notoriously grumpy African herbivore, the capybara is in fact a giant relative of rats and mice.
它是地球上最大的啮齿动物，也是集着站、坐和观察站于一体 It's the largest rodent on the planet and also a combined landing and launch pad and observation post.
考虑到水豚的体型和强健的种群数量，水豚是平原上主要的生态代理人 Given its size and robust population numbers, the capybara is the principle ecological agent on the plains.
它消耗大量的植物物质，主要是经过改造的草和水生植物 It consumes huge quantities of vegetable matter, mostly grasses and aquatic plants which are transformed
变成一个大而笨重的身躯，可达75公斤 into a large, bulky body that may reach 75 kilos.
因此，平原上最强大的捕食者，寻找这些超大但爱好和平的啮齿动物也就不足为奇了 It's not surprising then that the plain's most powerful predators prowl in search of these oversized but peaceful rodents.
水豚光滑的身体适应了两栖生活，它们在洪水泛滥的平原上自如地移动 With sleek bodies adapted to an amphibious life, capybaras move at ease through the flooded plain.
即使是最幼小的个体也是游泳和潜水的行家 Even the youngest individuals are adept swimmers and divers.
在家族群落中，它们在沼泽地带四处飞溅 In family clans, they splash about the marshy territory.
但到了吃东西的时候，幼崽们需要干燥的土地 But when it's time to eat, the youngsters need dry land.
这个家庭群体吃了好几个小时的草，而它们的首领在站岗 The family group grazes for hours while their leader keeps guard.
幼崽是时候喝点温热营养的乳汁了 It's time for a little warm, nutritious milk.
这些水豚幼崽出生在富饶的季节 These capybara pups have been born in the season of exuberant plenty.
无论它们看哪里，无论它们走到哪里，这家人都有新鲜的草吃 Wherever they look, wherever they go, the family has fresh grasses to eat.
平原是水豚的理想家园，完美的天堂 The plains are an ideal home for the capybaras, a perfect paradise.
在这个季节，家庭群体分散在各处，由高大的雄性领导，其中的任务是确保族群的安全 During this season, family groups are scattered everywhere lead by large males among whose tasks it is to ensure the safety of the clan.
它可能是天堂，但并不总是一个安全的地方，尤其是当一组巨型爪子的主人靠近的时候 Paradise it may be, but it's not always a safe place, especially when the owner of a set of giant claws approaches.
一旦觉察到危险，雄性水豚就会发出警报，族群就会从水路逃走 As soon as he detects danger, the male capybara emits an alarm call, and the clan flees by water.
这次是虚惊一场 A false alarm, this time.
这只是一只巨大的食蚁兽，平原上另一种典型的居民 It was only a giant anteater, another characteristic inhabitant of the plains.
巨型食蚁兽在平原上漫步时必须保持良好的步伐 Giant anteaters must keep up a good pace as they roam the plains.
它们的食物完全由蚂蚁和白蚁组成，这意味着寻找食物是一件耗时的事情 Their diet composed exclusively of ants and termites means that finding food is a time-consuming business.
食蚁兽出色的嗅觉引导它们穿过开阔的土地，寻找美味的白蚁， Anteaters' excellent sense of smell guides them across the open land on the trail of tasty termites,
但这个季节的潮湿意味着气味不能被有效地驱散， but the dampness of the season means that smells are not so effectively dispersed,
迫使食蚁兽更频繁地旅行，不断地寻找它们最喜欢的昆虫 forcing the anteaters to travel more often, constantly in search of their favourite insects.
有些生物运气比较好，不用走那么多路 Some creatures have better luck and do not have to walk so much.
湿透的平原是海绵状的绿色， The saturated plains are spongy and green,
还有一只小食蚁兽，一种爱树的食蚁兽决定下到陆地上，在松软潮湿的土壤中寻找食物 and a tamandua, a small tree-loving anteater decides to go down onto terra firma to look for food within the loose, damp soil.
小食蚁兽利用这个季节改变饮食 Tamandua take advantage of the season for a change of diet
它们以蚂蚁和白蚁以外的昆虫为食，而蚂蚁和白蚁是它们有些乏味的习惯性食物 and will feed on insects other than the ants and termites which make up their somewhat tedious, habitual diet.
小食蚁兽把它长长的鼻子伸进柔软的泥土里 The tamandua sticks its long snout into the soft Earth.
它的口鼻是一个配备了超灵敏感受器的高精度仪器，可以探测到气味， Its muzzle is a high-precision instrument equipped with super sensitive receptors that can detect smells,
品味，甚至小动物的活动 tastes, and even movement.
活在当下。在这些丰足的日子里，它可能会找到奶油和营养丰富的苍蝇和甲虫幼虫 Carpe diem. During these days of plenty, it may find creamy and nutritious fly and beetle larvae.
平原现在成了伊甸园，一片乐土 The plains are now an Eden, a promised land.
除了各种颜色的鸟类和无数水豚家庭， As well as birds of all kinds and colours and numerous families of capybara,
这片广阔的土地也被鱼类和奥里诺科河鳄鱼所享受，随着降雨而变得更大 the vast territory also enjoyed by fish and Orinoco crocodiles grows even larger with the rains.
洛斯大草原地区和整个法国一样大 The region of Los Llanos is as large as the whole of France.
它位于南美洲大陆北部的奥里诺科河盆地，就水量而言， It's located in the north of the Southern American continent in the Orinoco Basin, in terms of volume of water,
世界第三大河 the third largest river in the world.
这片平原是一片异质的稀树草原，其南部边缘由奥里诺科河划定， The plains are a heterogeneous savanna whose southern edge is delineated by the Orinoco River,
并向北方的所有方向延伸 and which extend towards the north in all directions.
奥里诺科河在这个巨大的生态系统中形成了一个天然的领土边界 The Orinoco forms a natural territorial border within this gigantic ecosystem.
当水位开始下降时，河流又回到了它通常不那么富裕的河道 When the waters begin to recede, the river returns to its more usual less affluent course.
即便如此，在某些地方，河堤之间的距离仍然超过一公里 Even so, in places, it still stretches over a kilometre from bank to bank.
随着雨季逐渐接近尾声， As the rainy season gradually reaches its end,
地球上一些最古老的岩石出现了，沉睡的巨石被强大的河流完美地打磨 some of the oldest rocks on the planet emerge, sleeping giants perfectly polished by the mighty river.
这些休眠的恐龙充满了生机 These dormant dinosaurs are full of life.
在它们中间，在它们伟大的形体之下， In amongst them, beneath their great forms,
平原上生活着更多的半水生动物…… live more of the plain's semi-aquatic animals...
…巨大的水獭 ...giant otters.
这群水獭正在古老的雕刻般光滑的岩石周围巡逻 This family of otters is on patrol around the ancient, sculpted rocks.
这条河的栖息地惊人地丰富。到处都是鸟类、奥里诺科河鳄鱼和海龟 The river habitat is astonishingly prolific. Birds, Orinoco crocodiles, and turtles are all around.
头顶上，藏在树枝间的，麝雉 And overhead, hiding among the branches, hoatzins.
麝雉以外表闻名， Hoatzins are famed for their appearance,
特别是当它们还小的时候，它们会表现出某种祖先的能力在树枝间移动 especially when young when they exhibit certain ancestral abilities moving among the branches.
利用它们的四肢和从翅膀上伸出来的退化的爪子， Using their four limbs and vestigial claws that protrude from their wings,
它们看起来真的像来自侏罗纪时代的游客 they really do seem like visitors from the Jurassic age.
然而，尽管它们体型庞大，它们仍然很好地隐藏在树叶中， Yet despite their size, they remain well hidden among the foliage,
只有当它们发出警报，笨拙地逃离可能的危险时，才会暴露它们的存在 only revealing their presence when they sound the alarm and flee from possible danger in clumsy flight.
这一物种的一个独特特征是它们的消化系统与奶牛相似 A unique characteristic of this species is that their digestion is similar to that of cows.
它们的胃得到了细菌的帮助，细菌会产生一种像牛粪一样的臭味 Their stomachs are aided by bacteria which produce a smell like cattle droppings.
这似乎是为了保护它们不受捕食者的侵害，也让它们有了一个常见的名字——臭鸟 This seems to protect them from predators and has given them their common name, stinkbirds.
臭鸟的恶臭是这个物种特有的化学防御，代代相传 The stinkbird's foul smell is this species' particular chemical defence, passed down through the generations.
当这个季节最后一场风暴的最后一滴雨滴落下时，麝雉父母在喂它们的小鸟 While the last raindrops of the last storm of the season fall, hoatzin parents feed their chicks.
当反刍食物时，大量的恶臭细菌也会转移到它们的后代身上， When regurgitating food, a good dose of stinking bacteria is also transferred to their offspring,
不仅帮助它们消化食物，还会成为潜在捕食者的一道非常没胃口的菜 helping them not only to digest the food, but also become a very unappetising dish to potential predators.
河岸森林的居民种类繁多 There's a great variety of inhabitants of the riparian forests.
有些达到了如此巨大的数量，以至于成为了真正的害虫 Some reach numbers of such magnitude that they become genuine pests.
黎明时间，无数的小生物占据了河岸 Dawn. An innumerable cloud of tiny creatures takes possession of the riverbanks.
这是环境发生变化的警告信号 It's a warning sign of something changing in the environment.
成千上万的蚊子形成跳动的云，看起来就像闪闪发光的海市蜃楼 Thousands of millions of mosquitos form throbbing clouds that seem like shimmering mirages.
这些昆虫成团的运动产生了令人不安的奇观 The movement of these massive agglomerations of insects produces a disconcerting spectacle.
入侵渗透到奥里诺科河的每一个角落 The invasion penetrates every corner of the Orinoco.
对许多当地居民来说，这是一个恼人的季节性发展， It's an annoying seasonal development for many local inhabitants,
但对其它动物来说，这是非常有益的 but for others, it's very beneficial.
激起瘟疫的河流也提供了解药 The river that provoked the plague also provides its antidote.
在被河流打磨破碎的巨大岩石黑暗原始的内部， Within the dark, primordial interior of the giant rocks polished and broken by the river,
蝙蝠正在醒来，准备一晚的行动 bats are waking up for a night of action.
随着黄昏的临近，飞行的哺乳动物变得越来越焦躁不安 As dusk advances, the flying mammals become ever more restless.
当蝙蝠们准备飞起来的时候， And while the bats are gearing up to fly,
有些鸟类利用蚊子肆虐的机会来享用一顿晚些的晚餐 some birds take advantage of the plague of mosquitoes for a late supper.
蚊瘟正好与季节的变化相吻合 The mosquito plague coincides with the change of season.
这戏剧性地预示着即将发生的事情 It's a dramatic indication of what is around the corner.
在蚊子的祸害之后，又来了一个大规模的惩罚…… After the scourge of the mosquito comes another punishment of biblical magnitude...
干旱 drought.
风暴和乌云在翅膀的拍打中消失 Storms and clouds vanish in the beat of a wing.
热量蒸发了平原上所有的水， The heat evaporates all the water on the plains,
而在短短几天的时间里，景观发生了翻天覆地的变化，天堂很快就变成了人间地狱 and in a question of a few days, the landscape changes utterly, the paradise soon becoming a living hell.
无垠的绿色完全褪去 The infinite green fades completely.
几天前，鳄鱼在这里巡逻，苍鹭在数百万条游来游去的鱼旁穿行， Where a few days ago crocodiles patrolled and herons stalked the millions of fish that swam,
只剩下一片支离破碎的旱地 a broken patchwork of dry land is all that remains.
平原现在空无一人，满目荒凉，尘土飞扬 The plains are now empty, desolate, and dusty.
伊甸园瞬间消失，只留下一片地狱 The Garden of Eden disappears moment by moment, leaving only an inferno in its place.
这是平原的另一面，它双重特性中的海德先生一面 This is the other face of the plains, the Mr. Hyde aspect of its dual personality.
当四面八方的水都退到最后的水坑和溪流中避难时，平原变成了贫瘠的， While the water ebbs away on all sides taking refuge in the last puddles and streams, the plains are transformed into a barren,
孤立的荒野 isolated wilderness.
当然，这是最糟糕的事情，但就像一个不知道从哪里来的诅咒，另一个大瘟疫似乎正在降临 Surely, this is as bad as things can get, but like a curse out of nowhere, another biblical plague seems to be descending.
成千上万的蝗虫在荒芜的稀树大草原上蜂拥而至，仿佛受到了巫术的召唤，在平原上嗡嗡作响 Buzzing across the plains as if conjured by witchcraft, millions of locusts swarm through the deserted savanna.
在平原上，一切都以巨大的规模移动 Here in the plains, everything moves in colossal proportions.
肥沃的平原，以及喧闹的鸟群和满足的水豚家庭，似乎已经蒸发了 The fecund plains with their noisy flocks of birds and contented families of capybara seem to have evaporated.
沙漠占据了大地，平原成了蝗虫的王国 Desert overtakes the landscape, the plains now the kingdom of the locusts.
蝗虫使草木化为尘土，化为乌有 The locusts reduce the vegetation to dust, to nothing.
它们像断头台一样无情的大嘴咀嚼着每一颗植被 Their implacable, guillotine-like mouths chew on every blade of vegetation.
然而，蝗虫虽然是平原的新主人，却不是和平的统治者 However, although the locusts are the new lords of the plains, they do not reign in peace.
蝗虫是来自天堂的法力，对于生活在这里的猛禽来说， Locusts are mana literally from heaven for the birds of prey that live here,
天上飞来的食物，数量巨大 a providential food that flies in, in huge quantities.
凤头卡拉鹰、秃鹰和鹰成群聚集在昆虫云周围 Caracaras, buzzards, and eagles gather in their dozens around the cloud of insects.
北方的凤头卡拉鹰是最具组织性的 The northern crested caracaras are the best organised.
六只或七只一组，像狼群一样合作狩猎 Groups of six or seven hunt in cooperation like a wolf pack.
它们的攻击线驱散了蝗虫，蝗虫在前进的过程中起飞了 Their lines of attack scatter the locusts, which take off as they advance.
当它们逃跑的时候，成群的昆虫从鸟儿身边经过，鸟儿趁飞行时捕捉食物 And as they flee, the swarming insects pass close to the birds who take the opportunity to capture a snack on the wing.
每天有好几个小时，各种各样的猛禽会充分利用蝗虫的到来填饱肚子 For several hours a day, the various species of the birds of prey make the most of the surface of locusts to fill their stomachs.
平原上的掠食者必须趁食物充足的时候好好利用，猎食到天亮 The predators of the plains must take advantage of this abundance of food while it lasts, hunting until the last light of day.
而当夜幕降临，夜班动物就会接管 And when darkness falls, the night shift takes over.
气温的下降使蝗虫行动迟缓 The drop in temperature makes the locusts sluggish.
随着它们的行动几乎减少到瘫痪的地步，某种东西正在跟踪它们 With their movement reduced almost to the point of paralysis, something is stalking them.
由于蝗虫的不动，一只平原小老鼠大吃了一顿 A small plains mouse feasts thanks to the locust's immobility.
每片乌云都有一线光明，即使是蝗虫密布的乌云， Every cloud has a silver lining, even a cloud of locusts,
这既是沙漠平原给老鼠的礼物，也是给鸟儿的礼物 which is a gift from the desert plains as much for the mouse as for the birds.
这是一年中它们唯一能获得这么多蛋白质的时间 It's the only time in the whole year they will have access to so much protein.
随着时间的推移，戏剧性的场面愈演愈烈 As time goes by, the drama intensifies.
水池和水道完全干涸 The pools and channels dry up completely.
虽然鳄鱼、乌龟和水豚仍然可以利用热泥浆和水 While they still can, crocodiles, tortoises, and capybara make use of the hot mud and water.
但渐渐地，每一个水坑都变成了致命的陷阱 But little by little, each puddle becomes a deadly trap.
在没有选择的情况下，鳄鱼和水豚疲惫地走出泥陷阱，寻找最后一个水坑 With no options left, crocodiles and capybara wearily head out of the mud traps in search of one last watering hole.
于是，一场紧张的出逃开始了，一场与时间的痛苦赛跑开始了 And so begins an anxious exodus, an agonising race against the clock.
这是一个有风险的操作，但留在这里更危险，甚至是致命的 It's a risky operation, but staying is even more dangerous, deadly even.
寻找水源不仅令人窒息，每一步都是危险的 The search for water is not only asphyxiating, it's perilous in every step.
很多难民都熬不过去 Many of the refugees will not make it.
新鲜的草已经消失，取而代之的是尘土飞扬的大地， The fresh grass has disappeared, replaced by dusty Earth,
并不是所有的朝圣者都能到达它们曾经的天堂 and not all the pilgrims will reach what remains of their former paradise.
对水蟒来说，这么多迁徙的动物群是一个很好的机会 For anacondas, so much migrating fauna is a good opportunity.
水蟒也会在长廊森林中避难，这是平原上最后一个可以提供喘息的地方 Anacondas also take refuge in the gallery forests, the last place in the plains to offer some respite.
这些可能超过10米长的巨蛇藏在泥土和落叶中 These huge snakes that may exceed 10 metres in length hide in the mud and fallen leaves.
水蟒们焦急地等待着雨水的回归，但同时也在等待着一些缺乏防备的动物的失误 The anacondas are anxious for the return of the rains but also await the misstep of some off-guard animal.
水蟒通常会在伏击中停留数日， Anacondas often remain in their ambushes for days,
但有时，如果它们发现有旅行者经过，就会从藏身之处钻出来 but sometimes, if they detect the passage of a traveller, they will emerge from their hiding place.
几条奥里诺科河小鳄鱼是小蟒蛇的绝佳机会 A few small Orinoco crocodiles are an excellent opportunity for a young anaconda.
不管年幼与否，鳄鱼都不会心甘情愿地成为别人的食物 Young or not, crocodiles will not willingly become someone else's food.
虽然很累，但它们仍然足够强壮和健康来保护自己 And though tired, they're still strong and healthy enough to defend themselves.
没有什么能阻止它们到达平原上仅存的少数绿洲之一，即使是一条饥饿的水蟒也不行 Nothing will stop them from getting to one of the few oases left on the plains, not even a hungry anaconda.
每个动物都在水还流的地方寻找避难所 Everyone is looking for sanctuary where the water still flows.
画廊森林，一个隐藏的新鲜流动水的天堂 The gallery forests, a hidden haven of fresh running water.
尽管河岸带的小溪和小溪遭遇了残酷的季节性干旱，但生活还是稍微轻松了一些 Despite the brutal seasonal drought in the brooks and streams of the riparian zone, life is somewhat easier.
晶莹剔透的淡水泉水， Crystal clear freshwater springs,
快乐世界的最后残余，到处都是成群结队的热带鱼 the last remnants of a happy world, are filled with tropical fish that swim in small shoals.
这与邻近平原上盛行的干旱和死亡形成了鲜明的对比 It's a striking contrast to the drought and death that prevails on the adjacent plains.
几十种不同种类的鱼在河里和水池里游泳， Dozens of different species of fish swim in the river and pools,
然而，尽管它的外表很受欢迎， and yet, despite its welcoming appearance,
对于原始居民来说，这个栖息地不一定是完美的天堂，它们需要谨慎 this habitat is not necessarily a perfect paradise for its pristine inhabitants who need to be cautious.
不远处，一种原始的岩石状爬行动物潜水寻找藏身之处 Not far away, a primitive rock-like reptile dives in search of a place to hide.
一只玛塔龟从泥泞的岸边朝更清澈的水域走去寻找食物 A mata-mata turtle heads from the muddy bank towards clearer waters in search of food.
玛塔龟在水流的推动下沿着河床前行， The mata-mata is propelled along the riverbed by the current,
寻找能满足其需求的地方 searching for somewhere that meets its needs.
玛塔龟是水生猎手的专家，会运用伪装和伏击 The mata-mata turtle is an expert aquatic hunter, employing camouflage and ambush.
它的捕猎方法需要极度的耐心 Its hunting methods require patience in the extreme.
一旦它找到了藏身之处，它就开始一动不动地守夜 Once it's found its hiding place, its motionless vigil begins.
玛塔龟藏在光天化日之下，鱼却在自信中成长 While the turtle hides in plain sight stalk still, the fish grow in confidence.
最终，它们会放松警惕，过于接近耐心的猎手 Eventually, they will let their guard down and get too close to the patient hunter.
然后，不知道如何或为什么， Then, without knowing how or why,
一个接一个，它们消失在一张移动速度快得难以看清的嘴巴里 one after the other, they disappear into a mouth that moves so quickly it's hard to see.
当一场致命的捉迷藏游戏在晶莹剔透的泉水中进行时， While a deadly game of hide-and-seek is played out in the crystal clear springs,
在平原上，温度越来越高 out on the plains, the heat increases.
在森林的树枝上，吼猴休息和降温 Up the in branches of the forests, howler monkeys rest and cool off.
族群的一些成员啃树叶，寻找肉质的水果来解渴 Some members of the clan nibble at leaves and look for fleshy fruits to quench their thirst.
河边的森林可以为它们提供一整年的食物，但在旱季的骄阳下， The riverside forest can supply them with food for an entire year, but under the scorching sun of the dry season,
猴子会花费最少的精力，花更多的时间打盹，而不是寻找食物 the monkeys will expend the minimum of effort and employ much more time napping than looking for food.
然而，尽管它们昏昏欲睡，它们总是保持警惕 And yet, despite their drowsiness, they're always on guard.
几声看不见的轻柔脚步声，让它们警觉起来 The soft sound of a few unseen steps puts them on alert.
它们是被平原上最大的掠食者美洲狮发现的 They've been discovered by the plain's greatest predator, a puma.
但就目前而言，还没有迫在眉睫的危险 But for the moment, there's no immediate danger.
大猫也感受到了炎热和干旱的影响，太累了，无法捕猎 The great cat is also feeling the effects of the heat and the drought and is too tired to hunt.
警报过去后，平静再次降临到猴群身上， After the alarm passes, calm descends on the troop once more,
吼猴寻找一些阴凉处，等待下午空气稍微凉一点的时候 and the howlers look for some shade in which to wait for the afternoon when the air cools a little.
即使是最可怕的美洲狮也会进入一种介于清醒和睡眠之间的半紧张症状态， Even the much feared puma enters into a semi-catatonic state between wakefulness and sleep,
美洲狮一边打盹，一边随意地监视着周围发生的一切 cat napping while it casually spies on everything happening around it.
午睡时间是猎手和被猎者之间难得的休战时刻 Nap time is a rare moment of truce between hunter and hunted.
一些平原上的流亡者，精疲力竭，体弱多病，到达了河岸森林 Some of the plain's exiles, exhausted and sickly, reach the riparian forest.
美洲狮能看见，却没人看见。它似乎对生病的水豚不太感兴趣 The puma sees and is not seen. It does not appear overly interested in a sick capybara.
然而，这只长腿兀鹰却非常兴奋，也许这是它的幸运日 This caracara, however, is very excited, its lucky day, perhaps.
筋疲力尽的水豚没有到达水里就咽气了 The exhausted capybara breathes its last without reaching the water.
这段旅程让它吃不消 The journey has been too much for it.
像所有的猫一样，美洲狮总是忍不住好奇。它下来查看水豚的尸体 Like all cats, the puma cannot help being curious. It comes down to check out the capybara's corpse.
就长腿兀鹰而言，它并没有被打动 For its part, the caracara is not impressed.
在这个困难时期，发现者绝对是守护者 Finders are most definitely keepers in these difficult times.
但是美洲狮并不是特别感兴趣 But the puma is not particularly interested.
因为森林里有充足的食物，如果猫科动物能避开，它就不会吃任何不是自己杀死的东西 With food a plenty in the forest, if the feline can avoid it, it will not eat anything it's not killed itself.
这的确是长腿兀鹰的幸运日，它可以吃饱 It is indeed the caracara's lucky day, and it can eat its fill.
水豚无论如何，在干旱或下雨的时候，都是平原食物链的第一环节 Capybara, one way or another, during drought or rain, are the first link of the food chain of the plains.
水豚，不管它们是活的还是死的，都会和红脚龟分享它们的领地 Capybara, be they alive or dead, share their territory with red-footed turtles.
当爬行动物忙于求偶仪式时， And when the reptiles are busy with their courtship rituals,
严重的干旱似乎对它们没什么影响 the punishing drought seems to bother them very little.
这些龟的装备很好，可以承受干燥的环境， These turtles are well equipped to withstand the dry conditions,
因此，尽管许多动物在恶劣的环境中任人摆布， so while many animals are at the mercy of the inclement conditions,
一只雄性红足龟开始向它选择的雌性求爱 a male red-footed turtle begins the courtship of his chosen female.
它在干燥的土壤中追踪她的踪迹 He follows her trail in the dry soil.
而要赢得雌性的青睐，雄性必须坚持不懈 And to earn the favours of a female, a male must be perseverant.
它将需要部署力量和魅力，以获得进入她的保护外壳最亲密的区域 He will need to deploy both strength and charm to gain access to the most intimate area of her protective shell.
爱在干旱和绝望之间开辟了一条道路，是生命和变革的信息 Love opens a path between drought and hopelessness, a message of life, of change.
经过一番相当大的努力，雄龟来到小溪边凉快一下，重新镇定一下 After such considerable effort, the male turtle goes to the stream to cool off and recompose himself.
水豚、麝雉和其它流亡者似乎也在做着同样的事情 Capybaras, hoatzins, and other exiles seem to be doing the same.
其它小得多的生物，如黄蜂，也需要少量的液体来生存 Other much smaller creatures such as wasps also need their little dose of liquid in order to survive.
黄蜂喝得很快，然后以最快的速度返回巢穴 The wasps drink fast and head back to their nest at top speed.
平原上的生活从不停止 Life on the plains never stops.
黄蜂巢已经满负荷运转， The wasp nest is at full capacity,
但来来往往是不变的，靠得太近可能很危险 but coming and going is constant, and getting too close might be dangerous.
黄鹂非常清楚这一点，但它们没有避开黄蜂，而是在昆虫的巢穴附近筑巢 Orioles know this very well, but instead of avoiding the wasps, they construct their nests near to those of the insects.
尽管天气炎热，黄鹂也正处于繁殖期，正忙着建造它们精心建造的家园 Despite the heat, the orioles are also in their breeding season and are busy building their elaborately constructed homes.
成对的黄鹂不停地缝补和编织， The pairs of orioles sew and weave without pause,
除了那些偶尔表演小爱情舞的雄鸟 except for the males who now and then perform their little love dance.
黄蜂的巢穴正好在黄鹂群落的中间，每个物种都受益于相互保护 The wasp nest is right in the middle of the oriole colony, each species benefiting from mutual protection.
一方面，捕食者不敢太靠近鸟巢，另一方面， On the one hand, predators don't dare to come too close to the bird's nests, and on the other hand,
黄鹂阻止昆虫猎手接近黄蜂的巢穴 the orioles deter insect hunters from approaching the wasp's nest.
这是一个双赢的局面 It's a win-win situation.
虫鸟联合聚居地的喧嚣是另一个征兆，预示着一些事情将要发生改变 The hustle and bustle in the combined insect-bird colony is another omen that something is going to change.
在洛斯大草原，一切都是时间问题 On Los Llanos, everything is a matter of time.
地狱与天堂交替 Hell and heaven alternate.
时钟到达顶点，再一次是改变的时候了 The clock reaches its zenith, and it is once more time for change.
像来自天堂的祝福，雨又回来了 Like a blessing from heaven, the rains return.
无论惩罚有多严厉，它的时间都很突然地结束了 No matter how the hard the punishment has been, its time draws to a close very suddenly
一切又变了 and everything changes again.
诅咒结束了， The curse comes to an end,
但好戏还在继续 but the drama continues.
平原是美洲最荒凉却又最美丽的栖息地之一， The plains are one of the harshest yet most beautifulof American habitats,
一片视野无限的土地，在两个极端之间撕裂 a land of infinite horizons torn between two extremes.
它们简单的外表下，隐藏着惊人而有趣的生物多样性， Their simple appearance hides a staggering and intriguing biodiversity,
一群非凡的生物，适应了夏季的极端干旱和冬季的汹涌洪水 a multitude of extraordinary beings that adapt to the extreme drought of summer and the overwhelming floods of winter.
雨季又来了，大草原再次被洪水淹没，河流和湖泊重新出现 The rains return, the Llanos are flooded again, and the rivers and lakes reappear.
水豚、鳄鱼、鸟类和鱼类， Capybara, crocodiles, birds, and fish,
所有动物都重新获得了自己的领地，努力奋斗，蓬勃发展，因为它们的生活被再次生活在... all regain their territory, striving and thriving as they live their lives caught
在哥伦比亚和委内瑞拉大大草原的两个不可抗拒的方面之间 between the two irresistible aspects of the great Llanos of Colombia and Venezuela.
时间轴调整 校对 chenym