特別推薦：亞運英語學習之旅

英國一家連鎖超市最近開始出售馴鹿肉，此舉引起動物保護組織的抗議，稱其破壞了圣誕節(jié)魔力，同時也剝奪了野生動物的生存權。據(jù)悉，該超市為德國折扣超市，在英國有530多家連鎖店，他們出售的鹿肉品種為西伯利亞馴鹿，每包350克，售價6英鎊。動物保護組織表示，將魯?shù)婪颍ńo圣誕老人拉雪橇的馴鹿的名字）宰殺，然后將其變成人們圣誕節(jié)期間的盤中餐，這種想法令人作嘔。圣誕節(jié)是一個讓人們分享平和與善意的時候，所有的動物也應該享受這個時刻，而不是做為菜品被人品嘗。

A reindeer walks on snow on in the Svalbard archipelago. The Lidl supermarket chain is under fire for selling reindeer meat in its British stores in the run-up to Christmas. (Agencies)

A supermarket chain was under fire on Monday for selling reindeer meat in its British stores in the run-up to Christmas.

German discount chain Lidl is selling frozen Siberian reindeer leg steaks at six pounds (9.60 dollars, seven euros) for a 350-gramme pack as part of its deluxe range.

Reindeer are traditionally associated with the festive season -- the story going that Father Christmas travels around the world delivering presents on a sleigh pulled by a team of flying reindeer.

Animal rights campaigners blasted Lidl, which defended its decision to sell the unusual meat by saying the reindeer had been well treated.

"Lidl is destroying the magic of Christmas by selling dead reindeer," said Justin Kerswell, the campaigns manager for Vegetarians International Voice for Animals.

"What they term 'luxury cuisine' belies the truth behind an industry that exists to exploit wild animals," he told trade magazine The Grocer.

Siberian reindeer were often herded by snowmobiles and in some cases by helicopters and motorbikes, Kerswell said.

"This and lassoing them cause huge stress. They can become so distraught their muscle can waste away."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said: "The idea of 'Rudolph' being slaughtered and sliced into steaks for a novelty Christmas dinner is revolting.

"Christmas is supposed to remind us of peace and goodwill -- and the rest of the animal kingdom could do with a taste of it, rather than being tasted."

Lidl, which has more than 530 stores in Britain, said the reindeer were fed on "local aromatic herbs and grass.

"They live in their natural habitat and have plenty of space to move around," a spokeswoman said.

The supermarket is also selling pheasant, venison and springbok in the Christmas build-up.

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(Agencies)

（中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 Helen 編輯）