Whales in Australia

澳洲的鯨魚

Jun 30, 2026, 11:32
AustraliaEnvironment

Introduction

Scientists are watching whales near Australia. Some whales are in danger.

科學家正在澳洲附近觀察鯨魚。有些鯨魚正處於危險之中。

Main Body

Southern right whales are at risk. Ships can hit them. Old fishing nets can trap them. Also, they have less food because the ice in Antarctica is melting.

南露脊鯨面臨風險。牠們可能會被船隻碰撞，或被舊漁網困住。此外，由於南極洲的冰川融化，牠們的食物也減少了。

In Western Australia, people see fewer humpback whales. In 2025, they saw 69 whales. Now, they only see 22. This is a big drop.

在西澳洲，人們看到的座頭鯨減少了。2025年時看到了69頭鯨魚，而現在僅看到22頭。這是一個巨大的跌幅。

Some whales act strange. They swim in circles. Scientists think a bird flu (H5) is making them sick. This flu is in birds and seals in cold areas.

有些鯨魚行為異常，會繞圈游泳。科學家認為是鳥類流感 (H5) 導致牠們生病。這種流感出現在寒冷地區的鳥類與海豹身上。

Conclusion

Humans and diseases are a big problem for whales in Australia.

人類與疾病對澳洲的鯨魚來說是巨大的問題。

Vocabulary Learning

📉 Talking about Changes

Look at how the text shows things getting smaller or worse:

  • Fewer → used for things you can count (whales).
  • Less → used for things you cannot count (food).
  • Drop → when a number goes down fast.

The Pattern: Old Number →\rightarrow New Number →\rightarrow Big Drop

Example: 69 whales →\rightarrow 22 whales →\rightarrow Big drop

⚠️ 'Can' for Danger

In this story, can doesn't mean 'permission.' It means 'it is possible.'

  • Ships can hit them. (Possible danger)
  • Nets can trap them. (Possible danger)

Simple Rule: Something + can + Bad Action = Danger

Vocabulary Learning

danger (n.)
Something that can hurt you or cause a problem
Example:The sign says there is danger near the river.
risk (n.)
A chance that something bad will happen
Example:Driving too fast is a big risk.
trap (v.)
To catch an animal so it cannot escape
Example:The fish was trapped in a net.
melting (v.)
Changing from ice to water because of heat
Example:The ice cream is melting in the sun.
drop (n.)
A decrease in amount or number
Example:There was a big drop in temperature last night.
strange (adj.)
Not normal; unusual
Example:I heard a strange noise in the kitchen.
disease (n.)
An illness or sickness
Example:The doctor is treating a dangerous disease.
Practice A2 words in a crossword→