>Iraq plagued by snakes

伊拉克干旱引'狂蛇之災'

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)

據《獨立報》報道，由于底格里斯河和幼發拉底河河底干涸，野生蛇類賴以生存的蘆葦灘遭到破壞，大群毒蛇開始攻擊伊拉克南部的人和家畜，已經導致6人死亡，13人中毒。伊拉克位于土耳其、敘利亞及伊朗的下游。最近由于上述國家建造堤壩蓄水灌溉農田，導致伊拉克境內的河流水位迅速下降。(見圖)

*以上新聞由ChinaDaily雙語手機報提供