多摩動物公園でトキのひな7羽が元気に育つ

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is July thirtieth. This week, a zoo in Tokyo shared some happy news: seven chicks of the crested ibis, a very special Japanese bird, are growing up healthy. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.

At Tama Zoo in Tokyo, seven crested ibis chicks born this year are growing up healthy and strong.

It means a chick, a baby bird.

The crested ibis is a bird with beautiful pale pink feathers. Its scientific name comes from the name of Japan itself, so it is truly a symbol of the country.

It means a feather, or a wing.

Long ago, this bird lived in many places across Japan. But its numbers became very small.

It means a number or an amount.

At the zoo, three pairs laid eggs, and the chicks hatched between March thirty-first and April twenty-seventh.

It means an egg.

Seven facilities in Japan, including this zoo, are raising these birds. This year, thirty-two chicks were born in total.

It means a facility or an institution.

To protect them from disease, visitors cannot see these birds at the zoo. They are raised with great care in a quiet place.

It means to protect.

Let's listen to the whole story one more time.

Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.

Seven chicks.

They live on Sado Island, in Niigata Prefecture.

That's all for today. Seven crested ibis chicks are growing up healthy at Tama Zoo in Tokyo, part of Japan's long effort to bring this beautiful bird back. Thanks for listening, and see you tomorrow.