睽違50年
For the first time in almost 50 years, platypuses have returned to Hacking River in Sydney’s Royal National Park following a chemical spill in the 1970s.
自從1970年代一場化學品洩漏事故之後，睽違近50年，鴨嘴獸現在終於首次重返澳洲雪梨皇家國家公園的哈金河。
chemical spill化學品洩漏事故oil spill石油洩漏事故
Nine of these animals have been released into the wild in the country’s oldest national park, marking the first step toward making sure that one of Australia’s most famous species can survive in the park’s new environment.
總共有九隻鴨嘴獸被野放至澳洲這座最古老的國家公園，這是確保澳洲最知名的其中一種動物可以在園區內的新環境生存下來的首個措施。
release(v.)釋放、放走the first step toward N. or V-ing～的首個措施species(n.)物種、動物extinct species已絕種物種endangered species瀕危物種threatened species受威脅物種survive(v.)生存、存活、倖存survivor(n.)倖存者
The five female and four male platypuses were brought from two other regions in Australia, Bombala and Dalgety, and were kept in the Taronga Zoo’s special platypus area before being released.
五隻雌性鴨嘴獸與四隻雄性鴨嘴獸已從澳洲其他兩個地區（邦巴拉與達格缇）引入，在被野放前會先安置在塔龍加動物園鴨嘴獸專區。
female(adj.)雌性的male(adj.)雄性的
To allow all of the animals to settle in the national park, the females have already been released, and the males will follow in around a week to ten days.
為了讓所有鴨嘴獸能適應園區生活，雌性鴨嘴獸已先被野放，而雄性鴨嘴獸會在7至10天左右後才放入園區。
settle(v.)定居、安家、安頓
Scientists hope that the platypuses will breed and spread out in the area in the future.
科學家希望鴨嘴獸將來能在園區內交配及繁衍。
breed(v.)交配繁殖spread out擴散出去、散開;繁衍後代
Platypuses can be greatly affected by dry weather and environmental changes.
鴨嘴獸易受乾旱的天氣與環境改變影響。
affect(v.)影響environmental(adj.)環境的environment(n.)環境environmental protection環境保護environmental pollution環境污染
Therefore, the experts working on the project hope the animals will thrive in their new homes and continue to survive in the area.
因此，負責這項計畫的專家希望鴨嘴獸能在新環境下茁壯成長，並在園區內持續生存下去。
thrive(v.)茁壯成長;興隆、繁榮