China's Shanghai Zoo Bans Visitors From Making a Chimp Watch Short Videos—Citing Eyesight Risks
Shanghai Wildlife Park has barred visitors from asking its resident chimpanzee, Ding Ding, to watch short videos, saying the practice could threaten its eyesight. Ding Ding is a two-year-old chimpanzee whose gender has not been disclosed. The park's rule—intended to protect the animal—has sparked online laughter and conversations about how far people will go to entertain animals.
In This Article:
Meet Ding Ding: The Two-Year-Old Chimp With Baby-Like Charm
Ding Ding has won many hearts with a baby-like charm that seems almost human. Clips show the young chimp sipping milk while sitting cross-legged, hiding shyly in its keeper’s arms, and even nibbling a lotus flower petal by petal. Online, netizens nicknamed Ding Ding the 'flower thief' for its playful acts.
From Milk to Lotus Petals: Ding Ding's Everyday Moments
Viral clips capture its daily life: Ding Ding drinking milk cross-legged, snuggling with keepers, and casually swiping a lotus flower to munch on petals. In one clip, a visitor holds a phone up to the glass of the enclosure as music plays, and Ding Ding stares at the screen, scratching its face in concentration.
The Short-Video Fad and the Welfare Debate
Online posts claimed Ding Ding had developed a fondness for short videos. In a viral moment, a visitor’s phone is held up to the enclosure glass as music plays and the chimp stares at the screen in concentration. Some observers note that sounds and visuals might be especially stimulating for animals. The park’s decision to limit screen exposure is framed as an eye-sight protection measure and a welfare precaution.
Takeaway: Our Online Fascination and Animal Care
This story highlights how quickly a zoo’s rules become part of a broader conversation about enrichment, welfare, and the line between amusement and health. While many joke about the ‘flower thief,’ the underlying message remains: care teams must balance curiosity, kindness, and health, and we should respect the boundaries they set for animals.
