Visitors to Hangzhou Zoo have reportedly developed a nasty habit of throwing snowballs at animals, who are none too pleased. Perhaps least amused of all are the lions, who, seriously, are way too high on the food chain to have to deal with this shit.
According to @wblbs on Sina Weibo, the zoo-goers throw hard, and the animals are annoyed enough to actively attempt to dodge the projectiles.
"Hard" may be somewhat of an embellishment though. Look at that kid in the above picture, who has the throwing form of a penguin, with half the grace. He would survive five minutes in the jungle, and faced with a lion, would crap his pants in 1.2 seconds, tops. I would pay to see that.
Don't hurl snowballs at animals, assholes.
(H/T @MissXQ)
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![Zimbabwe Elephants Die In Chinese Prison thumbnail]( "Zimbabwe Elephants Die In Chinese Prison")
Zimbabwe Elephants Die In Chinese Prison
From Zimbabwe’s Grasslands to Chinese Iron Jail Baby Elephant Dies
UPDATE ON ELEPHANTS EXPORTED TO CHINA
Elephants exported by the Zimbabwean government to China are suffering some of the worst of treatments being kept in horrifying dungeons under freezing weather and one of four recently taken there, has already died, it has emerged.
Reports coming from China with exclusive photographic evidence, state that Zimbabwean elephants are suffering under excruciating conditions inflicted upon them in Chinese hands. The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force has expressed concerns over the death as three surviving ones live behind bars isolated.
Four elephants were exported to China from Zimbabwe at the end of November last year amid a public outcry that the young elephants would not survive the stress caused by the long trip via Dubai.
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At present another 14 elephants are being held in a boma in Hwange, also awaiting exportation in January 2013, on their way to two zoos in China, reports state.
The elephants’ new home has however been described as disgusting as they are being made to live in ‘a cold unfriendly jail cell in a foreign country’. The Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, Johnny Rodrigues has told of reports he has received on the elephant’s welfare.
“Further to our December report on the 4 elephants exported to China, we have received an email from Animals Asia Foundation who claim to have a number of volunteers monitoring the progress of the elephants. They say that the 4 elephants arrived at the end of November 2012. Two went to Taiyuan Zoo, one of which has subsequently died. The other two reportedly went to Xinjiang Tianshan Safari Park. They sent us the photos below of the surviving elephant at Taiyuan Zoo. We are saddened and disgusted that these elephants have been removed from their mothers and the African bush to live alone in a cold unfriendly jail cell in a foreign country. We believe the temperature at the Xinjiang Tianshan Safari Park is less than 20 degrees Celcius below zero. It is highly unlikely the elephants will survive in the cold when they have been accustomed to temperatures of between 30 and 40 degrees.
“There are apparently still another 14 elephants waiting to be exported and we have to try and stop this from happening. Please help us by spreading the word about this cruel and disgusting practise,” said Rodrigues.
Earlier in December ZCTF had raised concerns on age and health of the elephants and called the removals a destruction of family unit.
“The fact that these elephants are juveniles indicates that they are being taken away from their mothers and family units are therefore being destroyed,” a statement read.
UPDATE ON ELEPHANTS EXPORTED TO CHINA
Elephants exported by the Zimbabwean government to China are suffering some of the worst of treatments being kept in horrifying dungeons under freezing weather and one of four recently taken there, has already died, it has emerged.
Reports coming from China with exclusive photographic evidence, state that Zimbabwean elephants are suffering under excruciating conditions inflicted upon them in Chinese hands. The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force has expressed concerns over the death as three surviving ones live behind bars isolated.
Four elephants were exported to China from Zimbabwe at the end of November last year amid a public outcry that the young elephants would not survive the stress caused by the long trip via Dubai.
Zimbabwean young bull incarcerated in Chinese dungeon
The elephants’ new home has however been described as disgusting as they are being made to live in ‘a cold unfriendly jail cell in a foreign country’. The Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, Johnny Rodrigues has told of reports he has received on the elephant’s welfare.
“Further to our December report on the 4 elephants exported to China, we have received an email from Animals Asia Foundation who claim to have a number of volunteers monitoring the progress of the elephants. They say that the 4 elephants arrived at the end of November 2012. Two went to Taiyuan Zoo, one of which has subsequently died. The other two reportedly went to Xinjiang Tianshan Safari Park. They sent us the photos below of the surviving elephant at Taiyuan Zoo. We are saddened and disgusted that these elephants have been removed from their mothers and the African bush to live alone in a cold unfriendly jail cell in a foreign country. We believe the temperature at the Xinjiang Tianshan Safari Park is less than 20 degrees Celcius below zero. It is highly unlikely the elephants will survive in the cold when they have been accustomed to temperatures of between 30 and 40 degrees.
“There are apparently still another 14 elephants waiting to be exported and we have to try and stop this from happening. Please help us by spreading the word about this cruel and disgusting practise,” said Rodrigues.
Earlier in December ZCTF had raised concerns on age and health of the elephants and called the removals a destruction of family unit.
“The fact that these elephants are juveniles indicates that they are being taken away from their mothers and family units are therefore being destroyed,” a statement read.
Behind the scenes at animal circus
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| Wu Gang performs with lions and tigers at a circus in Fuzhou Zoo, East China's Fujian province on Nov 2, 2012. [Photo/CFP] |
According to Wu, fewer young people want to work as animal trainers, and only if they have an animal training family background, because it is a dangerous job.
Anything can happen at a circus show, and quick response is crucial for trainers, Wu said.
"But fierce animals could be obedient if you treat them kindly, love them, and encourage them as often as possible... Like human beings, animals have feelings as well," Wu added.
In recent years, there has been an increase in animal rights activists calling for an end to animal shows in zoos. When the end comes, there would be thousands of trainers losing their jobs, one staff member at Fuzhou Zoo said.
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| Wu Gang trains a bear before a circus performance in Fuzhou Zoo, East China's Fujian province on Nov 2, 2012. [Photo/CFP] |
Little Giants: Baby Pandas at the Chengdu Base
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