As in most modern sieges,

大部分的近代围攻中如列宁格勒围困
the zoo animals were among the first victims in Leningrad.

动物园中的动物是第一批受害者
It was not a hard decision.

这并不是个艰难的决定
What was the point of watching the poor beasts starve

与其看着那些倒霉的野兽饿死
when they could nourish famished people for a few days.

不如拿它们来给这些饿得发慌的人充饥
The hungry Leningraders felt not a wit of sentimentality

饥饿的列宁格勒人没有时间多愁善感
as they slaughtered the animals,

他们开始屠杀动物
filling the cold streets with the steaming blood of tigers,

冰冷的街道上流淌着老虎
lions, and giraffes.

狮子和长颈鹿的热血
The zoo's livestock quickly disappeared

从列宁格勒人开始食用这些兽肉起
as the people of Leningrad first acquired their taste for exotic meats.

动物园的牲畜迅速消失
It was November 1941.

这是1941年11月