Thai Elephant Gets Artificial Leg
泰國大象獲得人工義肢
Christine Hong, David Lee
【新聞關鍵字】
1. finishing touch: n. 最後一筆
2. prosthetic: n. 義肢
3. limb: n. 肢
4. landmine: n. 地雷
Thai doctors add the finishing touches to a new front left prosthetic elephant leg on Sunday, 10 years after she lost her limb by stepping onto a landmine.
在大象穆塔拉因誤踩地雷而失去左前腿的10年後，泰國象醫們在週日完成最後的程序，把一支新的左前義肢裝在大象穆塔拉身上。
【新聞關鍵字】
5. logging camp: n. 伐木營
6. measurements: n. 測量
7. ensure: v. 確保
8. artificial limb: v. 人工義肢
It has been 10 years since Motala lost her leg while working at a logging camp on the Thai-Burmese border. She is now able to walk on all-fours again, thanks to the Prosthesis Foundation¡¦s efforts to create a limb just for her.
自從穆塔拉在泰緬邊界的伐木營工作時失去左腿，已經有10年了。由於義肢基金會的努力，他們為穆塔拉訂作了一支腿，現在的穆塔拉能再度用四條腿走路了。
Hundreds of elephants employed in the logging industry along the Thai-Burmese border risk injury from landmines… laid out by Burmese troops fighting ethnic rebels.
沿著泰緬邊界，有數百隻大象冒著因地雷受傷的風險，替伐木業工作，那裏的地雷是緬甸軍所設下用來對付叛軍的。
Doctors at the Friends of the Asian Elephant’s Hospital in Lampang Province have cared for Motala since she was injured in 1999. They spent an entire day creating the pattern and making measurements to ensure the limb would fit perfectly.
位在泰國南邦省的亞洲大象醫院的醫生們，自從穆塔拉於1999年受傷後便一直照料她。他們花了整整一天製作象肢模型和丈量，以確保這條義肢能完全適合。
It took the elephant around ten minutes to take her first step, and when that was done, it took an hour to complete a 100 foot track.
穆塔拉花了約十多分鐘踩出牠的第一步，而花了一個小時走完100步。
[Therdchai Jivacate, Prostheses Foundation Doctor]:
“Motala is an adult elephant. The joint between her leg and artificial limb might get bigger or reduce when she gains or loses weight, so we might need to adjust the prosthesis again."
義肢基金會醫生Therdchai Jivacate說：「穆塔拉是一隻成年母象。在她的腿與人工義肢之間的接合點，會隨著她的體重增減而變大或減小，因此我們可能需再次調整她的義肢。」
Doctors say it might take time for Motala to get used to the prosthesis, but they are encouraged by how she did not reject it
醫生們說，穆塔拉可能需要花些時間來習慣這條義肢，但她不拒絕這條義肢，已讓醫生們受到很大的鼓舞。
本則影音新聞出處：新唐人電視台英語新聞
http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_offbeat/2009-08-17/854281918858.html
