英國白內障大象術後重見光明 難以置信用鼻子揉眼睛確認
It was a truly mammoth undertaking, but Duchess the blind elephant will finally be able to see again after receiving what was quite possibly the world's largest ever cataract operation.
給大象做白內障手術，這絕對是項浩大工程……但是這臺估計是全世界最大型的手術最終讓盲象“女爵”重見光明瞭。
The 43-year-old Asian elephant, who only has the one eye left, had been able to do little more than distinguish between light and dark for years. But thanks to surgeons at Paignton Zoo, Devon, she should soon be able to see clearly once again.
“女爵”是頭43歲高齡的亞洲象，多年來，她靠僅剩的一隻眼睛來稍稍分清黑夜與白天。感謝德文郡的佩頓動物園的獸醫們，她終於很快要重見光明瞭。
The huge creature was put under by anaesthetists David Burton and Jo Jago for around three hours, while the delicate operation was carried out by consultant opthamologist Jim Carter and assistant John Lewis. After she came round Duchess seemed to be fine and was tenderly rubbing the sore eye with her trunk.
麻醉醫生David Burton和Jo Jago將它麻醉了三小時，之後眼科顧問醫生Jim Carter和助手John Lewis 開始了這臺精細的手術。術後當“女爵”清醒後，她看上去狀態不錯，並且用鼻子輕輕地揉了揉她酸脹的眼睛。
The zoo’s curator of mammals, Neil Bemment, said although Duchess was groggy after the operation, the signs were looking good.
動物園哺乳動物館館長Neil Bemment說道，儘管術後女爵看上去搖搖晃晃、東倒西歪的，但生命體徵看上去還不錯。
He said: 'She’s up and about but like anyone who’s had a major operation it will take some time for her to fully recover.
他說：“術後她站起來，並在周圍走了走。不過和任何做過手術的人一樣，她需要一點時間來徹底痊癒。”
'She’s been making her usual bellowing sounds which is a good sign. But it will be some time before we are able to tell if we’ve saved her sight.'
“她發出了以前經常發的那種低吼聲，這是個好的徵兆。不過我們得再等些時間才能知道手術是否成功恢復了它的視覺。”
He added she may have another ten years of life if things go well.
他還說道，如果不出意外，女爵還能再活十年。
It’s not the first time Duchess has had groundbreaking surgery. She was the first elephant to have an eye removed last year because of glaucoma.
這不是女爵第一次接受開創性的手術了。她是第一隻因爲青光眼而接受手術的大象，去年她接受眼球摘除的手術。
Because of the cataract in her left eye she was to all intents and purposes blind although she can probably still tell the difference between light and dark.
因爲左眼的白內障，女爵幾乎算是盲了，僅僅能分辨出黑夜和白天。
Zoo staff have been caring for Duchess’s eyesight for some time and she has been trained to accept eye-drops and other medication.
動物園的工作人員因她的視力問題照料了她一段時間，並且訓練她接受眼藥水治療和其他的療法。
She has been on her own since her long-time companion, Gay, a female Asian elephant, was euthanised in March 2010 due to ill health.
自從2010年3月，她的好夥伴，一隻叫Gay的母亞洲象因病而被施行安樂死後，女爵就一直形單影隻地生活着。
Mr Bemment said: 'In spite of this, she seems to still be in good spirits and as keen on her food as always.'She receives a lot of attention from her keepers.
Bemment先生說道：“儘管如此，她看上去精神狀態挺不錯，而且胃口也很好，同往常一樣。” 她的管理員們對她傾注了很多心血。
'Duchess’s welfare and quality of life are our primary concern.
“女爵的幸福和生活質量是我們的首要關注點。”
'Elephants have an acute sense of smell and terrific hearing, so she is well aware of things happening around her even if she cannot actually see them.'
“大象擁有敏銳的嗅覺和極其精細的聽覺，所以即使看不到，她也能對周邊發生的事一清二楚。”
