A zoo in eastern China has banned visitors from asking a chimpanzee to watch short videos. Staff are worried about the animal’s eyesight.
Ding Ding is a two-year-old chimpanzee at Shanghai Wildlife Park. Many people are fans of its baby-like charm.
Viral clips show Ding Ding sipping milk while sitting cross-legged. In another video, it is shyly hiding in its keeper’s arms. It also takes a lotus flower to chew on its petals.
But earlier this month, the zoo posted a notice outside Ding Ding’s enclosure. It banned visitors from showing the primate their phones.
Staff warned that too much screen time could damage its eyesight and cause 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 punishments for breaking the rule.
The zoo’s phone ban quickly went viral on mainland China’s social media. Clips of it have been viewed more than 10 million times.
