Hi there! It's time for another episode of News Bites.

I'm Paz Bueno.

And I'm Brody Halverson.

In today's news:

A plan to help take care of senior pets, and a safe space for whales.

And in today's Tasty Tidbit…puzzling pine trees in Poland.

Stay tuned for more on those stories, coming up next.

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新北市規劃寵物長照醫院

New Taipei City Plans Long-Term Care Hospital for Pets

When we think of pets, we often picture playful puppies and kittens.

But just like people, pets grow older and sometimes need special care.

As our furry friends age, they might need more help with their health (健康).

This is called long-term care for pets (寵物長期照顧).

It includes everything from regular check-ups at the vet to special treatments for older animals.

包括從定期在獸醫那裡檢查到為年長動物提供特殊治療的一切。

Long-term care helps our pets stay comfortable and healthy in their later years (晚年).

New Taipei City is planning something special for pets.

They want to build the first long-term care hospital for pets in Taiwan.

It will be in Baiji Mountain, Sanxia District (三峽區的白雞山).

The Animal Protection Office hopes this hospital will get private businesses to join in pet care.

動物保護處希望這家醫院能讓私人企業加入寵物照顧行業。

The hospital will offer nursing, rehabilitation, brain exercises, and special devices for pets.

醫院將提供護理、復健、腦部運動和寵物專用設備。

The city already trains people in pet care, but they need a place with professional equipment (專業設備) to teach better.

The city also started a program in 2020 to certify (認證) places that take care of older pets.

This new pet hospital plan in New Taipei City could mark a big step forward in animal welfare (動物福利).

It could not only provide essential care (必要的照顧) for aging pets but also inspire more dedication towards long-term pet healthcare.

It could ensure (確保) our beloved animal companions receive the best support in their golden years.

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多米尼克為抹香鯨創建海洋保護區

Dominica's Ocean Home for Sperm Whales

In the Caribbean Sea, there's a small island called Dominica.

在加勒比海，有一個叫做多米尼克的小島。

And this island is creating the first-ever protected ocean area for sperm whales!

這個島嶼正在創建世界上第一個為抹香鯨而設的海洋保護區！

These whales are big and rare animals that need our help.

This new protected area covers almost 300 square miles of blue sea.

It's a place where the sperm whales can safely live, eat, and have babies.

The Prime Minister of Dominica (多米尼克的總理) says they want to keep these amazing whales safe and help our planet too.

Sperm whales are good for the ocean and our climate.

When they dive deep (深潛) and come back up, they poop (排泄) near the surface.

Their nutrient-rich poop helps tiny ocean organisms called plankton grow.

它們富含營養的排泄物有助於微小的浮游生物的生長。

The plankton capture carbon dioxide and bring it down to the ocean floor when they die.

浮游生物會捕捉大氣中的二氧化碳，並在死亡時將其帶到海底。

And in Dominica, these whales seem to poop more than usual (比平常更多)!

Scientists aren't sure why whales near Dominica poop more.

They say it could be because they can find more food there, or maybe because of the type of squid they are eating.

Scientists think there are fewer than 500 sperm whales around Dominica.

These whales don't travel much and live together as families.

They talk to each other with special clicking sounds.

它們用特殊的叫聲相互交流。

A long time ago, there were millions of sperm whales.

But people hunted them for oil, so now there are much fewer, and they are endangered (面臨滅絕).

The new protected area in Dominica will help them live better.

It will stop big ships from hitting them and keep the whales safe.

This is great news for the whales…and for us!

By helping these whales, we're also taking care of our planet.

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So, in today's News Bites:

New Taipei City is planning to build the first long-term care hospital for pets in Taiwan.

The idea is to help take care of older pets and keep them healthy.

City council members sent the plan to the Ministry of Agriculture for approval.

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And,

The Caribbean island of Dominica is creating the first-ever protected ocean area for sperm whales!

This new protected area covers almost 300 square miles of blue sea.

It's a place where the sperm whales can safely live, eat, and have babies.

By helping these whales, we're also taking care of our planet.

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趣味小點

Tasty Tidbit

In Poland there's a strange and wonderful place known as the Crooked Forest.

There are around 400 pine trees in this forest that look like the letter J!

Despite their odd shape, these trees are healthy and grow as tall as 50 feet.

Some people thought there was a special kind of gravity in this area that made the trees grow bent.

But that doesn't really make sense, because gravity pulls things straight down, not sideways.

Another idea was that heavy snow might have pushed the young trees over when they were growing.

But then, why didn't other trees nearby grow the same way?

Some people say the farmers who planted these trees in 1930 did something to make them grow like this.

But no one knows for sure.

The people who might have known the secret of the Crooked Forest are probably not around anymore.

It's a puzzle that might never be solved, but it sure makes the Crooked Forest a fascinating and mysterious place!

Do you know about other mysterious places on Earth?

If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to [email protected], and you might hear it at the end of an episode!

We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!