I have a wildlife zoo

Sun Dasheng's serious head turned back and forth, and the tip of his tail quivered as if electrified.

The sight made the visitors laugh uncontrollably; the Pallas's cat was indeed too amusing!

Not only were its expressions hilarious, but its whole body seemed to be a source of comedy.

As Lin Hao watched Sun Dasheng lying there leisurely, a sudden question popped into his head.

The summer heat was beginning to rise, and Linhai's humid and hot climate was vastly different from the plateau's.

Animals like the giant pandas and macaques could swim and bathe to cool down, but how did Pallas's cats lower their temperatures? It looked quite comfortable at the moment, showing no signs of discomfort.

After asking Daigo, Daigo scratched his head, "In the summer, Pallas's cats should shed their fur, right? Once they shed, they won't be so hot anymore."

A woman nearby heard his remark and laughed, "The caretakers said that not only is there air conditioning in the back of the Pallas's cat exhibit, but they've also installed a cooling system in the activity area. It's hot outside, but cool inside, so the Pallas's cats are very comfortable, and there's even an ultraviolet sterilization device!"

"Oh, is that so!"

Hearing the visitor speak so knowledgeably, Daigo struck up a conversation.

It turned out that this woman was a fan of Pallas's cat; she always visited them at Xining Zoo during the holidays, despite the long distance.

Now that Linhai had Pallas's cats, and she lived nearby in Lanhe City, it was much more convenient for her to come see them. She had waited in the exhibit for an hour or two just to see the Pallas's cats come out from the back for a while and to snap a few photos.

Speaking of Pallas's cats, her face was brimming with smiles. She endlessly praised the exhibit's environment and overflowed with compliments for Linhai Zoo!

...

After viewing the Pallas's cats, Lin Hao and his group strolled down to the elephant house.

Along the way to the elephant house, there was a field of corn!

The corn had been planted alongside the rice and by mid-May, it had grown very robustly.

A vast stretch of green corn stood erect in the field, their broad leaves unfurling, rustling like a green ocean swell as the wind blew through them, a sight very pleasing to the eye.

In front of the cornfield flowed a meandering river, with the warm golden sunshine sprinkling upon it, creating a glittering, rippled surface. A gentle breeze brought a fresh scent, caressing one's face.

Behind the cornfield stood a two-story bamboo house with the distinctive features of the Dai ethnic group, with what seemed to be several strings of cured meat hanging under the second-floor balcony eaves. Next to it grew some trees almost as tall as the bamboo house, painting a picturesque scene full of rural charm.

Gazing upon this idyllic beauty, one's mind would wander, as if inadvertently stumbling upon the dwelling of some reclusive sage, tilling the fields at sunrise and drinking wine by the river at sunset!

This was Lin Hao's first walk from this direction, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, when was this corn planted?"

Daigo replied, "Yeah, besides the rice field next to the alpacas, there's this cornfield too."

He mused longingly, "I really want to try it when it's ripe. This is organic corn that hasn't been treated with pesticides! The flavor must be wonderful. I've eaten the organic potatoes grown by the zoo director at Panda Restaurant before, and that taste, mmm, was simply irresistible. Paired with the delicious bamboo shoot soup, it's hard for even immortals to resist."

Lili said, "Magic, the director used magic!"

Daigo laughed, "The Archdruid, of course, has a special touch with cultivating crops!"

At the entrance to the path from the farmland to the bamboo house, there was a conspicuous yellow warning sign with an elephant drawn on it, stating, "Frequent wild elephant area, passersby take note to avoid."

Although it was a zoo, the sign, in combination with the hut and fields, created an ambiance as if wild elephants roamed nearby.

Lin Hao, unable to contain his excitement, said, "Let's go, let's go check it out!"

They crossed through the cornfield on the path where one could touch the green corn leaves on both sides, truly an immersive experience.

They climbed the stairs to the second floor of the bamboo house.

From the balcony, they could clearly see the elephants moving around in their activity area!

In the activity area, there is an arch-like structure from which water cascades down like a waterfall.

It splashes into the large pool below, creating a burst of white spray.

Pingping is gleefully playing in the water, its gray skin coated in a layer making it glisten under the sun, as if it has been slathered with sunscreen.

It moves a few steps forward before submerging itself entirely in the water.

Though Pingping's underwater actions are invisible, the roiling waves on the surface suggest how it must be shaking its head and tail with high spirits, causing ripples with its hefty body!

The visitors express their delight and amazement as they watch the elephants play in the water.

There's no need to worry about the elephants getting water up their noses when completely submerged, as they have a "valve" in their trunks that can be closed while drawing in water.

It stands up in the pool, then dashes out, runs a circle, and comes dashing back again.

Meiling, Meilan, and Bobo are also soaking in the pool!

A group of elephants is bathing, and Bobo is lying on its side in the water, looking incredibly content.

In the hot summer weather, taking a bath and playing in the water is the greatest joy, and the visitors share in their happiness.

Daigo laughs and snaps a couple of photos, "Truly awesome!"

Lin Hao looks over the spectacle of elephants playing in the water from the balcony and starts wandering around the elephant observation hut.

The elephant observation hut is not just a viewing spot but also a small exhibition, with informative displays on the wall and a long, slightly yellowed tusk on the table as an exhibit.

The colossal tusk immediately catches the eye!

A child reaches out curiously to touch it.

The tusk is not covered by any case, and the sign beneath reads: "This tusk is a model."

Lin Hao walks over and instinctively touches the tusk to feel it.

The display next to it is dedicated to tusks.

"What can elephants do with their tusks?"

Lin Hao guesses to himself, "They must certainly help elephants in fights."

Reading on, he discovers that tusks have quite a few uses!

Elephants can use their long tusks to dig through the sand for minerals like salt or to find underground water during the dry season.

In times of severe drought, when rivers and other surface water sources dry up, elephants can dig holes several meters deep with their tusks, waiting for groundwater to slowly seep through the soil. This ability to dig for groundwater is vital for elephants to survive the dry season, and after elephants have quenched their thirst, other animals will also gather around the water hole to drink. Without elephants, many animals might not make it through the dry season.

Tusks can also be used to break branches, and one side of the tusk can strip tree bark. Elephants have their preferred tusk, akin to humans being left or right-handed.

Moreover, the magnificent tusks can also help male elephants win the affection of females. When long-time friends and family reunite, elephants express excitement and joy by clashing their tusks together.

Well, he had thought too superficially!

Lin Hao continues to read the display, but the next part is more somber.

More and more elephants are now born without tusks.

In environments free of poaching, only 2%-4% of female African elephants are tuskless.

However, due to poaching, elephants with beautiful long tusks are cruelly killed. Male elephants have generally larger and heavier tusks, making them the primary targets of poachers.

Once the males are heavily poached, poachers then target females with tusks. The tusked females are killed while the tuskless ones escape by chance, eventually giving birth to more tuskless offspring. The situation is similar in Asiatic elephants, where those with tusks may be captured for labor, making the prevalence of tusklessness even more pronounced.