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[1] An animal sanctuary in China called “the humblest zoo in history” has gone viral thanks to the care its director takes of its inhabitants. The small zoo is located in a mountainous region of Kaili city, in southwestern China’s Guizhou province. It only measures 3,500 square metres but is home to more than 20 types of animals. These include nationally protected animals such as tigers, lions and bears.
[2] The zoo’s director, 70-year-old Feng Yuanyong, is a retired secondary school headmaster from eastern China’s Anhui province. After he retired in 2016, he and his wife moved to Kaili to take care of the zoo, in which his brother is an investor. Feng learned how to care for various animals and said he has become an expert over the past decade.
[3] Formerly, the zoo was part of an entertainment park, which helped it stay open. After the park closed, worsening road conditions led to a drop in visitors. In October this year, a video taken by a group of visitors went viral. Many were touched by Feng’s love for the animals. The zoo was also labelled “the humblest in history” because of its cheap ticket price: 20 yuan (HK$21.90) per person. Feng said the ticket price has remained the same for the past decade. Sometimes, he even lets visitors bargain.
[4] With losses of 80,000 yuan (HK$87,882) a year, Feng had to reduce the number of staff from five to three. He used his pension to sustain the zoo. Other staff have also donated part of their salaries. “Even if I do not eat, I will not starve the animals,” Feng said. Feng’s attitude and actions have moved many people. After the video went viral, the zoo’s payment QR code was shared online. The zoo received donations from kind-hearted online observers, varying from one yuan to more than 10,000 yuan (HK$10,985).
[5] Feng thanked people for their donations, but also asked them to stop. He said he had received enough money to keep the zoo operating. The sanctuary also welcomed more visitors in a day than it had attracted in the four months before its overnight fame. Feng plans to hold classes to teach children about the animals in the zoo.
Source: South China Morning Post, November 10
