調查顯示英國人掀起飼養另類寵物熱英語美文
調查顯示英國人掀起飼養另類寵物熱
Animal loving Britons opt for strange pets
英國公佈的一份調查結果顯示，英國人如今對寵物的著迷已從普通的'帶毛動物擴大到更廣的範圍，這包括許多不常被飼養的貓科動物。
Animal loving Britons have taken their obsession with furry pets to new lengths -- including many members of the cat family not usually associated with domesticity, according to a survey published Wednesday.
英國“大型貓科動物”(BCIB)組織對英國人合法飼養的奇異貓科動物進行了調查。調查發現，私人飼養的貓科動物共有154種，其中包括12頭獅子、14只老虎、50只美洲豹和16只野貓。調查同時發現，英國人飼養的另類寵物中還包括2000只鴕鳥、近500只猴子、300只美洲野牛和6000頭野豬。此外，BCIB在調查中還發現了250多條毒蛇和50多隻鱷魚。
The Big Cats in Britain (BCIB) group used the Freedom of Information Act to survey local councils on the weird and woolly creatures legally kept in private hands. It found a total of 154 assorted cats -- including 12 lions, 14 tigers, 50 leopards and 16 wild cats -- plus 2,000 ostriches and nearly 500 monkeys. At the same time 300 American bison and 6,000 wild boars are also kept privately. At the less cuddly end of the spectrum BCIB found more than 250 poisonous snakes and 50 members of the crocodile family.
上述資料不包括英國動物園餵養的動物。
The figures exclude zoo animals.
英國研究人員史蒂文斯表示：“儘管這些另類寵物在法律上被認為是危險動物，但公眾應該放心的是，它們都很少會逃離主人的家。”
"Although these animals are regarded by law as dangerous, the public should rest assured, that these animals very rarely escape," said researcher Shaun Stevens.
史蒂文斯還補充說：“一旦有地方發現有上述動物逃走，它們也將會很快被抓獲，所以對公眾不會造成危害。”
"Where escapes are reported the animals tend to be recaptured quickly and without any harm to the public," he added.