>Iraq plagued by snakes

伊拉克干旱引'狂蛇之灾'

Swarms of snakes are attacking people and cattle in southern Iraq as the Euphrates and Tigris rivers dry up, denying the reptiles their natural habitat among the reed beds, the Independent reported. So far 6 people have been killed and 13 others poisoned. River water, which once flowed into Iraq from Turkey, Syria and Iran, is now held back by dams and used for irrigation.(See photo)

据《独立报》报道，由于底格里斯河和幼发拉底河河底干涸，野生蛇类赖以生存的芦苇滩遭到破坏，大群毒蛇开始攻击伊拉克南部的人和家畜，已经导致6人死亡，13人中毒。伊拉克位于土耳其、叙利亚及伊朗的下游。最近由于上述国家建造堤坝蓄水灌溉农田，导致伊拉克境内的河流水位迅速下降。(见图)

*以上新闻由ChinaDaily双语手机报提供