Beijing Zoo's Olympic Efforts

There's a transformation taking place behind the scenes at Beijing Zoo, now emerging into the public's view. For years, the zoo's historic buildings-and matching exhibits-have struggled to keep up with world standards on captive animal environments. With the 2008 Olympics looming, the zoo is coordinating a series of enrichment projects to bring the zoo to the forefront of modern animal exhibition. Feeling the greatest effects of these changes are the zoo's many exotic residents, and their quality of life is improving by leaps and bounds. The zoo already has several success stories to relate, and many projects are in the pipeline.

 

Monkeying around

Because of their complex primate intellect, monkeys require mental stimulation from a captive environment. It's important for the Beijing Zoo's monkey keepers to provide this to keep the inhabitants happy. I spoke to Luan Yang, one of these people.

Prior to the squirrel monkeys' enrichment project, their exhibit was, "just like a jail, without vegetation," Yang said. Their improved exhibit features a carpet of lush grass, several live plants, and a series of aerial walkways made of branches. The monkeys leap and dance across these, some bearing young on their backs, infinitely curious about intruders. This is one of several successful mixed-species exhibits in the zoo; the squirrel monkeys peacefully share their environment with a gang of ring-tailed lemurs.

When asked what plans exist for the future of the monkeys, Yang said, "We've got many plans, but we don't have enough money," but, because of the commitment of certain individuals, the primate division of Beijing Zoo has been steadily improving in the lead-up to 2008.

 

Bear Success

Beijing Zoo's bear population is the subject of several projects, past and present. The zoo plays host to polar, brown, Himalayan red, and sun bears. As a result of past projects, the bears enjoy swimming holes, rocky mountains to explore, and a variety of toys to challenge them mentally.

"Before, it was just rocks and concrete," confessed Chen Qinglong, the head bear keeper. Since then, major architectural changes have been made, and the bear staff now carries out smell and food enrichment, which involves hiding food for the bears to search for, and marking the enclosure with various smells the bears might find in their natural surroundings to promote more natural behaviour.

The bears have also had problems begging for food from the zoo's guests. This causes difficulty, because it can cause the bears to put on weight and can sometimes obstruct their digestion if they eat the wrong foods.

"Now they spend more time looking for food that is hidden in the mountain, so they spend less time begging," Chen said. The keepers intend to continue their food and smell programme to ensure that the bears' quality of life is improved.

 

An otter's tale

Xinxin, a river otter, enjoyed a close bond with his keepers, who had been concerned for some time about his happiness and wellbeing. His swimming pool was "more like a bowl of water," about one by two metres, and he was exhibiting destructive behaviours such as tail-chasing and self-mutilation, indicative of a great boredom, his keepers said.

The otters have been one of the zoo's most successful improvement projects. Xinxin and his girlfriend Anan's behaviour have shown a great upturn since they were introduced to their new habitat.

"He used to bite his fingers and chase his tail; now, when he gets bored, he goes to find his friend," the head otter keeper, Fu Yanhua, said.

The otters delight in their new exhibit, featuring several large ponds interspersed with rocky banks, and a variety of river vegetation, among which they play.