A New Look for the Shanghai Zoo
March 12, 2002
The Xianhua news agency reports that the Shanghai Zoo is
updating the information signs outside of each animal's dwelling
at the zoo. While the old signs included sayings such as "meat
is edible," "fur can be used," and "evil
animal," the new descriptions promote the animal's well
being and will include educational information.
For example, the sign outside of the tiger area will provide
details on the tiger's plight in China and in the world. The
sign encourages visitors to help protect these endangered
animals. Other placards include the phrase, "Please be
nice to me." Zoo officials have been working on the signs
since October 2001 and have now completed new descriptions
for more than 200 species.
The process of creating the signs has been more difficult
than expected because of the research necessary to obtain
the correct information and wording. Tang Jirong, a zoo official
in charge of the project, stated, "We hope in this way
more visitors will look at the animals with tenderness and
affection, not as if they were merely resources for human
use."
The Shanghai Zoo is home to more than 500 species of animals,
including a giant panda named Cong Cong. Many other endangered
animals, such as the South China tiger and takin, also live
at the zoo. The South China tiger is endemic to China and
is virtually extinct in the wild. There are about 50 South
China tigers in Chinese zoos under the care of the Chinese
Association of Zoological Gardens. Takin are also native to
China and are on the endangered species list. The Shanghai
Zoo staff succeeded in breeding the takin in for the first
time 1983 and they continue to work to promote the reproduction
and survival of this species.
