Footprints of an "unknown" animal discovered in Shennongjia

时间：2007-11-27 06:58:20

（单词翻译:单击）

Chinanews, Beijing, Nov. 27 - Recently, a group of three scientists went to Lichahe River in Shennongjia to conduct an on-site investigation1 on the possible discovery of wildmen there. Scientists copied the footprints they found on the ground and collected and analyzed2 all the evidence they came by. After two days of work, they concluded that "no wildmen had been found here." However, they said that the footprints belonged to an animal they had never known before, that it was similar to human yet it was not human. Scientists also excluded the possibility that the footprints were left by wild boars or bears, the Beijing Evening News reported.

 

When they arrived on site, scientists found some clear footprints near the highway and by the river bank. The scientists carefully made models of these footprints with wet limestone3. They soon followed the traces where the animal ran away, hoping that they could find more evidence of the mysterious animal, evidence such as scratches, footprints or the animal's hairs, said Xu Xiaoguang, a member of the China Association for Scientific Expedition, who is also a member of the Rare and Exotic Animals Investigation Committee.

 

"On the way, we found that lots of trees branches and vines were broken. Many things were in a mess. We found some clear footprints on rocks and decayed wood. This might have been left by the animal when it was scared and wanted to run away hurrily," said You Wenhai, another member in the expedition team.

 

During the expedition, scientists found that the animal's footprints had some arches, indicating that it might walk upright, You said.

 

"The height of the broken branches and vines suggests that the animal might have a height of around 1.75-1.80 meters," said You, who added that the animal might be large and almost as tall as he.

 

"I tested with my own feet. However, even if I treaded hard on the ground, my footprint was not as clear as the animal's," You said.

 

The investigators4 found a lot of footprints placed irregularly on the ground. The distance between every two footprints was around one meter. At a place behind a large rock, they found two kinds of footprints left on humus, one large and the other small. The footprints were in the same direction with one in front and the other behind. The scientists recognized that both the footprints were left by the left foot.

 

During the expedition, the three scientists brought GPS devices with them so that they could pinpoint5 the exact location of the footprints they discovered. With this, scientists might be able to know the animal's living range and its food sources.

 

After two days's on-site investigation and close scrutiny6, the scientists concluded that the animal might be a large, apelike animal that was similar to humans, and yet not humans. It could stand upright. It was an animal that the scientists had never seen before.

 
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1 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查，调查研究
参考例句：
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
2 analyzed 483f1acae53789fbee273a644fdcda80     
v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析
参考例句：
  • The doctors analyzed the blood sample for anemia. 医生们分析了贫血的血样。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The young man did not analyze the process of his captivation and enrapturement, for love to him was a mystery and could not be analyzed. 这年轻人没有分析自己蛊惑著迷的过程，因为对他来说，爱是个不可分析的迷。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 limestone w3XyJ     
n.石灰石
参考例句：
  • Limestone is often used in building construction.石灰岩常用于建筑。
  • Cement is made from limestone.水泥是由石灰石制成的。
4 investigators e970f9140785518a87fc81641b7c89f7     
n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
  • The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 pinpoint xNExL     
vt.准确地确定；用针标出…的精确位置
参考例句：
  • It is difficult to pinpoint when water problems of the modern age began.很难准确地指出，现代用水的问题是什么时候出现的。
  • I could pinpoint his precise location on a map.我能在地图上指明他的准确位置。
6 scrutiny ZDgz6     
n.详细检查，仔细观察
参考例句：
  • His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
  • Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

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