Posted by picek
Reason why we came to that ZOO or 'dong wu yuan' in Chinese was to examine the conditions for living animals, or how are their natural habitats being replaced in one way or another. But when we were strolling among cages, it was kind of interesting if not bizzare experience altogether.
There are way too many animals in otherwise large place and many of them have been left in pitty state with no adequate shelter and must live on floor of concrete or bare soil, cages too small for adequate movements, some with little shadow. What bored they looked, their fur and feathers broken and their eyes shallow. No place to hide for necessary privacy, no place for game. They say there are 7000 animals here, and the 'dong wu yuan' has been opened for public since 1908.
A group of flamingo had attracted a group of professional photographers with large cameras near entry. Other birds were barely admired. Large groups of people were relaxing in shadow by the ponds, watching birds and feeding ducks – the only places that feel real lively and there were plenty of flowering trees in spring which contribute to friendlier appearance of the place. Most people were crowded in panda room, where giant and gentle bear feeds on bamboo behind the glass, in darkish room. It was one of the reason to come for many people and you have to pay extra if you want to see; there will be little chance to meet bear somewhere else unless you go to Chengdu. But nowsadays they say panda is protected, but what happens in real… you can only imagine.
Cages with wild cats: behind the bars, just on platform of a few square meters in the large house, all they can do is eat, sit and lay. Most depressing images. Elephant outside and deer and others were equally dperessed and out of boredom they kick the floor or lay entirely passively. Birds had no room, underground animals have no hidings.
And then there were visitors - they scream at birds and harass animals in many undecent ways. If you want to get depressed, visit ZOO.
Its on Xizhimenwai avenue next to Beijing Exhibition hall.
Admission fee: 15 RMB. Extra 5 RMB for panda hall.
Don't make any additional action that will further stress already deprived animals. Don't feed them with any extra food you brought. If you come with kids, you can do a lot if you tell them difference between real environments and ZOO and what does it mean to be 'a prisoner'.
You don't have to see ZOO where animals are hold in bad state. Better see them on pictures.
Posted by solopes
I was expecting to see a very carefully recreated environment, with small, planted and protected bamboo forests, where the pandas could live in a half free but controlled condition. It was frustrating to see the pandas through a window cage. When we go around, the back of the cages show a small open space, but the sensation remains. I think it would be easier to do a lot better than that.