斑鳖（bānbiē – Yangtze Giant Softshell turtles），全世界最大的淡水鳖（dànshuǐ biē – freshwater turtles）。它曾经在长江区域颇为常见。但是自从上个世纪70年代起，由于不合理的污染、猎杀、水坝和水资源开发，斑鳖濒临灭绝（bīnlín mièjué – close to extinction）。
Yangtze Giant Softshell turtles are the world’s largest fresh water turtle. They were once very common in the Yangtze River region. However, since the 1970s, they were pushed towards extinction due to pollution, hunting, dam and development of the water resource.
现在，斑鳖的数量及其稀少。在2019年开头，斑鳖的数量只有4只：两只在中国苏州动物园，两只野生在越南的湖里。唯一一只已知的雌性（cíxìng - female）在中国。由于野外环境的不确定性，位于越南的两只斑鳖的性别未能确定。
Currently, the Yangtze Giant Softshells are extremely rare. At the beginning of 2019, there are only 4 known Softshells: two located at the Suzhou zoo in China and two kept in the wild at lakes in Vietnam. The only known female is in China. Due to the uncertainty of the wild environment, it has been difficult to determine the gender of the two in Vietnam.
斑鳖中国国家一级保护动物，因为它的稀少和珍贵而被称为“水中大熊猫”。
They are the first class protected animals in China. Due to its rarity and preciousness, they are referred to as ‘Panda in the water’.
多国科学家、兽医及动物园管理人员曾多次组成研究团队，前往苏州动物园，尝试对它们进行采精和人工授精（réngōng shòujīng – artificial insemination），来挽救这个物种濒临灭绝的现状。不过一直以来，成效甚微。
Research teams made of scientists, veterinarians, and zookeepers from multiple countries have visited the Suzhou zoo and attempted artificial insemination on multiple occasions to save them from extinction. So far no obvious progress has been made.
近日的一次人工受精中，苏州动物园的雌性斑鳖出现了意外症状。虽然研究团队进行了一系列的抢救，它还是不幸死亡（sǐwáng – death）了。
In a recent attempt of insemination, there have been some complications with the female turtle at Suzhou zoo. Although the research team tried their best to save her, she has unfortunately passed away.
现在，一直斑鳖的数量从4变成了3。我们真切的希望它能像大熊猫一样化险为夷，继续长久地作为地球的一部分生存下去。
Now, the known number of this species has decreased from 4 to 3. We truly hope that there will be some miracles happening in the future and they will continue to be a part of the earth family for a long, long time.