義大利杜林的綿羊割草機 - 生態環境討論

今天看到這個新聞害我笑得停不下來 XD


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/07/italy.wildlife

Sheep replace lawn mowers in Turin parks
義大利杜林的綿羊割草機
Tom Kington in Rome, The Guardian, Monday April 7 2008


In a bid to keep its municipal lawns trim while saving money, the
city of Turin has done away with lawn mowers and brought in 700
sheep to graze in two parks.

義大利杜林（Turin）市決定用省錢的方法修剪城市裡的草皮--
把700隻綿羊帶到兩個公園裡代替割草機。

Turin police blocked roads last Thursday as the first flock moved
in to tackle the Meisino park, part of a two-month stint which city
officials say will save E30,000 (￡24,000) on gardeners' fees.

杜林的警察上週四把道路關閉，讓第一群綿羊進入Meisino公園工作，市府
官員表示，綿羊們未來兩個月的勤務可以幫忙節省3萬歐元的園丁工資。

Shepherds brought up the herd, carrying 16 newly born lambs belonging
to the flock, which will now be left to graze at the park on the city's
outskirts until the grass is cricket-pitch smooth.

牧羊人把羊趕到市郊的公園，這個羊群裡有16隻新生的小羊，他們會停留在此
享用青草，直到草皮變得又短又平整。

The scheme was tested last year with cows and sheep, but the cows were
not invited back after leaving behind too much dung.

去年試辦這項計畫的時候，除了綿羊還找來牛，但是牛留下了太多便便，
所以沒有獲選。

"I came here last year as well and it worked out really well," said
shepherd Federico Tombolato after leading his flock back into Turin.
"The city saved money and kept the park clean, while I saved money by
not having to rent fields to graze my sheep."

把羊再次帶進杜林的牧羊人Tombolato說，「去年來這裡試驗的效果非常好，
市府省了錢，又能維持市容整潔，我也省下租借草原放牧綿羊的費用。」

A second flock is scheduled to descend today on the Sangone park. In
both parks the sheep are kept in fenced-off sections and then moved
on when the grass is trim. Signs will be erected to inform park goers
why hundreds of sheep have temporarily replaced joggers and dog walkers.

第二群羊今天會進入Sangone公園。兩個公園裡的綿羊都在圍籬範圍內活動，
再視草皮被啃食的狀況移動圍籬的位置。公園也立起告示牌，讓遊客知道
平日公園裡的慢跑、溜狗人士為什麼會暫時變成幾百隻綿羊。

After the two-month stay in the city, the sheep will be withdrawn to
Alpine pastures for the summer.

在杜林市停留兩個月之後，這些綿羊會被帶回山區草原度過夏日。


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