With their goal so close, the pregnant caribou are even prepared to leave behind their yearlings to get there on time.

目标近在咫尺，怀孕的驯鹿甚至准备抛下一岁的幼崽，以便准时抵达目的地。

Like their mothers, the yearlings are close to collapse.

和它们的母亲一样，这些一岁的幼崽也濒临崩溃。

If this one can't find the energy to keep going, its chances are poor.

如果这只幼崽无法攒足力气继续前行，它活下去的希望十分渺茫。

On its own, it will quickly be taken by predators.

它很快就会被捕食者吃掉。

Well over 5,000 caribou die during each spring migration, either from sheer exhaustion or predation.

每年春季迁徙，都会有远超 5000 只驯鹿死去，要么是极度疲劳，要么是遭到捕食。

The only way to avoid that fate is to get up and move on.

避免这种命运的唯一方法就是站起来继续前进。

The lead caribou finally head out of the mountains and onto the coastal plains.

领头的驯鹿终于走出山脉，来到沿海平原。

After over 300 miles and barely any food, they've timed this migration to perfection.

跋涉 300 多英里、几乎没进食的它们，把迁徙时机把握得恰到好处。

The cotton-grass sprouts and flowers in the two weeks after the snow has melted.

雪融化后的两周内，羊胡子草发芽开花。

It's now at its most nutritious.

它现在是最有营养的时候。

The thousands of caribou now moving onto the plains are replenishing their reserves. And it's not just a case of simple refuelling.

成千上万涌入平原的驯鹿，正在补充体力。 这不仅仅是简单地补充能量。

Scientists have shown that eating the grass at this specific time helps the mothers to produce a richer milk for their newborn calves, greatly improving their chances of survival.

科学家研究发现，在这个特定时间吃这种草，能帮助母鹿为新生幼崽产出营养更丰富的乳汁，大幅提高幼崽的存活率。

本文来自公众微信号：英语阅读EnglishDaily