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A zoo in eastern China has sparked laughter online after it banned visitors from asking a chimpanzee to watch short videos, citing concerns for the animal’s eyesight.
Ding Ding, a two-year-old chimpanzee at Shanghai Wildlife Park, has already won many hearts with its baby-like charm.
Viral clips show Ding Ding sipping milk while sitting cross-legged, shyly hiding in its keeper’s arms, and even swiping a lotus flower to nibble on its petals one by one.
However, earlier this month, the zoo posted a notice outside Ding Ding’s enclosure banning visitors from showing the primate their phones.
Staff warned that too much screen time could damage its eyesight and trigger stress.
“If a chimpanzee cannot see clearly and cannot communicate with humans, it may become anxious, leading to health problems,” one zoo worker said.
The keeper noted there are no penalties for rule-breakers and stressed that Ding Ding cannot wear glasses.
The zoo’s phone ban quickly went viral on mainland social media, with related clips racking up more than 10 million views.
