I have a wildlife zoo

Last week passed, and it was time to prepare for the filming of the group variety show.

The production crew announced in advance on Weibo that this episode's content would involve a visit to the zoo.

Though they didn't mention the specific zoo by name, fans were quick to guess, "I bet a pack of spicy sticks it's Linhai Zoo!"

"Definitely, they shot a music video there last time, and the scenery was so beautiful."

"You must feature the pandas, I want to see our national treasures!"

"National treasures have got to have a grand appearance!"

"Dance again in front of the parrots and see if they remember."

"Recently, Linhai Zoo's cherry blossoms have bloomed, and they are very beautiful; you could go see the cherry blossoms!"

"I don't know exactly which day they're filming, I want to go there and watch."

The fans discussed enthusiastically.

The production team came over in advance to familiarize themselves with the zoo's environment and discuss some filming details with Fang Ye.

For instance, they discussed when the pandas are most active, since if that's unknown, during the shoot they might only be able to film them sleeping.

This time's filming was essentially just a walk through the zoo, not affecting other visitors' experience and not requiring anything specific from the animals.

Therefore Fang Ye didn't charge a fee, but he did need a segment in the show to feature the souvenir shop to promote their merchandise and increase sales.

Recently, there had been quite a few new items added to the merchandise!

Tablecloths with animal patterns, animal hair clips, animal head pillows...

And fans with cherry blossom patterns, lucky animal bags filled with cherry blossom petals, and so on.

...

Qiuqiu gave birth to her babies a week later than Yueyue!

She had two lion cubs, and now they are both over a month old.

In the wild, lionesses about to give birth usually leave the pride and find a secluded place to deliver.

If cubs are born within the pride, their one to two-year-old siblings might play with them too roughly, not mindful of their own strength, potentially causing severe harm to the fragile newborn cubs.@@novelbin@@

Infant killing among male lions is also very common, as invading males who take over as the pride leader often kill the offspring of the previous males.

Even the real fathers sometimes mistakenly kill their own offspring, mistaking them for those of other lions.

So, the lioness waits until the cubs are a bit older, around six weeks, to bring them back to the pride when their bodies are less vulnerable.

Obviously, artificial rearing in zoos is a different story, but if the mother lion is to rear the cubs, taking extra caution, the zoos often wait even longer, not introducing the cubs to male lions until they are about six months old.

The maternity ward is connected to a sixty-square-meter indoor area where they can take walks and bask in the sun.

In the first month, the lion cubs can move around well enough in the maternity area, but as they grow, they need more space to roam, preferably in the more rich and expansive outdoor yards.

However, early contact with male lions might pose risks!

Many zoos set up a kind of "animal kindergarten."

Lion cubs and tiger cubs are taken out and kept in separate enclosures.

Spanning one hundred square meters or even less, much like the first relocation area Xiaoqiao and the others had.

Visitors also love to watch these adorable lion and tiger cubs!

In some zoos, holding the cubs for photos is a chargeable service, much like feedings for a fee, neither of which is appropriate.

And such "kindergartens" don't benefit the cubs' growth either.

Being with their mothers gives the cubs a sense of security and teaches them survival skills, like Mizzle teaching the wolf pups, showing them the ways of the wolves – something they can't learn in a kindergarten.

If the lion exhibit could acquire a few more of these, the problem would be easily solved, but there just aren't enough green leaf coins.

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When it was designed initially, if it had been partitioned into several hundred square meter sections, it wouldn't have been spacious enough for the lions to enjoy themselves, and the viewing experience would be much less appealing.

So Fang Ye had decided to personally observe the meeting between the lion cubs and the adult male lions in the next few days, to see if they would be accepted by their father. If it really didn't work out, he would take them to the breeding separation area at the "L" shaped tail end of the lion exhibit.

Upon arriving at the lion exhibit, Qiqi and Kaka, the two male lions, were comfortably basking in the sun, asleep!

Mizzle was quietly staring off into the distance.

She used to be very lively and playful, but ever since some of the cubs were taken away, she became depressed and low-spirited, no longer as active as before.

Usually, she would run over happily when she saw Fang Ye approaching and even bite at his shoes, but now she still lay on the ground.

Fang Ye squatted down and stroked Mizzle's head, gently saying, "Mizzle, are you resting?"

Mizzle glanced at him, her chin resting on the ground, looking somewhat aggrieved!

Outside, the visitors who saw Fang Ye petting a lion called out enthusiastically, "Director~"

Animal keeper Li spoke from the outside at this time, "Everyone, please don't make noise, stay quiet. Soon we might have a lioness bring out her cubs to recognize their father! Don't scare them and affect the recognition process."

The visitors all widened their eyes!

"Lion cubs? I've seen them on a live stream before!"

"Okay, we'll be absolutely quiet!"

After Li gave his instructions, he picked up the walkie-talkie, "We're ready to let Qiuqiu out!"

...

Qiuqiu was lying lazily on the grass inside, with two small cubs playing beside her.

One of the cubs pounced over from behind Qiuqiu, its paws landing on her neck and its mouth nibbling on Qiuqiu's cheek.

Mom, play with me!

Qiuqiu lifted her head, turned to look at it calmly, blinked, and lay back down.

Qiuqiu's disposition was steady and reserved, not showing her feelings easily, and it was rare to see her face express intense emotions.

Whether it was love for her cubs or feelings of joy, anger, or rage.

Her white belly rose and fell gently, and she closed her eyes to sleep.

The cub hopped a couple of times, the paws walking on Qiuqiu's face and ears, causing her to shake her ears.

This more lively cub was named Baba!

Seeing no response from Qiuqiu, Baba bounced back away, biting Qiuqiu's buttocks on the way and then lying down, continuously digging at her tail with its paws, very playful.

The other cub, Zhazha, was much quieter, staring blankly at the corridor outside.

Seeing Baba lying in front of her, she instinctively started biting at its buttocks!

Baba instantly turned around, pawing at Zhazha's cheeks, and the two small lions began play-fighting.

At this moment, the gate leading to the main activity area opened.

Qiuqiu, hearing the noise, got up from the ground, paused at the gate, sniffing and looking around.

Then she walked out, with the two small cubs scampering along behind her!

Qiuqiu stepped outside, hesitated, and stopped.

A breeze carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees blew towards them, and the curious yet nervous cubs looked around at the outside environment!

The outside area was much more open than the inside, with many novel things.

In the distance, they could see a massive Pride Rock with jagged edges and the sweet acacia tree with its umbrella-like canopy!

They could even hear the sound of running water.

Seeing Qiuqiu and her cubs come out, Mizzle's eyes immediately brightened!

Qiuqiu glanced over, seeing Fang Ye waving as well as the other lions.

Then, looking at the two cubs clinging nervously to her leg, she lowered her head and picked one up with her mouth.

She walked over leisurely towards them.