Bab 145: Chapter 711: A Shared Understanding
Animals raised in groups at the zoo don't always live in harmony; fighting over food and brawling are quite common.
Even Sunny and Sunshine, the two brothers, would fight over a banana for half a day, and Red Bean would get aggressive with Chestnut just to eat an extra piece of apple.
As long as these conflicts are within an appropriate range, the zookeepers do not intervene. Such competition helps keep the animals active.
After eating its fill, Dasheng the Pallas's cat felt lazy and content, leisurely strolling through the snow.
It walked up to a rock and rubbed its cheek against it!
It seemed quite satisfied with its meal.
As it walked, its upper body lowered more and more until its chin was touching the snow!
It rolled over, exposing its fluffy belly, looking like a soft marshmallow.
With its four paws in the air, it wiggled left and right, rolling back and forth!
Its eyes were squinted, looking like a spoiled fat cat.
It wanted hugs, loving hugs!
Entertaining itself, it played happily.
This was a critical hit for the visitors, who were utterly charmed!
"Ah Wei is dead!"
"Oh my god, where's the medic? I need a blood pack! I can't take it anymore!"
"Hahaha, Pallas's cats are indeed cats! Both fierce and cute."
"So adorable! If the zoo had a Tibetan fox too, the two meme giants would be complete."
"I'd prefer a snow leopard! I've never seen a snow leopard."
"Pallas's cats are really so silly and cute."
After eating, the two Pallas's cats went to rest. Dasheng hid in a rock crevice, while Yuanxiao returned to the back quarters.
Rain Palace Xin took various photos of the adorable Pallas's cats and reluctantly left.
...
They had lunch at the zoo's restaurant and then visited the giant animal area.
The rhino exhibit was now complete!
Sunlight bathed the grass, and four southern white rhinos leisurely roamed the activity area.
Southern white rhinos come from Africa, so no snow was made for them here. Their environment consisted mainly of green grass, yellow sand, and muddy pits.
"Wow, look, they're fighting!" Anzi exclaimed.
Two rhinos were indeed locking horns!
Their massive bodies, covered in armor-like thick skin, looked like two armored tanks.
Their enormous heads lowered, mouths almost touching the ground, using their large horns to push against each other.
However, it seemed more like play-fighting than serious combat.
After a while, one rhino started pushing forward, while the other retreated step by step.
After retreating two or three meters, both rhinos stopped.
The retreating rhino flicked its ears and turned its head, seemingly acknowledging the other's strength, and walked away.
"Phew~" Rain Palace Xin sighed in relief.
She was genuinely afraid they might fight!
Those sharp horns looked as fierce as electric drills.
As the two rhinos locked horns, another rhino came over to watch.
Seeing the fight end, it paired up with the winner to lock horns.
It seemed this was a daily entertainment activity for the rhinos!
The rhino that finished fighting walked to a mud pit and started rolling in it.
Despite their thick armor-like skin, the folds in their skin are quite delicate, with blood vessels and nerves, often suffering from insect bites and parasites.
So, rolling in the mud, taking a mud bath, is a daily essential activity for these rhinos.
It not only provides sun protection but also protects their skin from bites.
Seeing a zookeeper surrounded by people explaining something, they joined the crowd to listen.
"Do you know what the phrase 'a shared understanding' means?" the zookeeper asked.
This was an easy question, and a visitor immediately answered, "It means that both parties can understand each other's thoughts."
The zookeeper smiled, "That's right, it comes from Li Shangyin's poem 'Untitled,' 'Our bodies have no colorful phoenix wings, but our hearts have a shared understanding.' Initially, it referred to lovers understanding each other, but it has since broadened.
The term 'shared understanding' refers to the rhinoceros horn!
In the 'Book of Jin,' there's a story about a deep, unfathomable pool that often emitted musical sounds at night.
A minister had someone light a rhinoceros horn, revealing various strange creatures at the bottom of the pool, some riding carriages and wearing human clothes. That night, he dreamed of these creatures accusing him of spying on them, and he died of fright shortly after.
So, rhinoceros horns were seen as having a mysterious quality, capable of discerning loyalty and connecting hearts."
A visitor curiously asked, "Does China have native rhinos? Why haven't I heard of them?"
The zookeeper replied, "Nowadays, when we think of rhinos, we immediately picture the vast African savannah.
But rhinos once roamed both Asia and Africa, even reaching the Yellow River basin. Our ancestors lived alongside rhinos, elephants, and tigers.
They are recorded in various books, and there are artifacts to prove it.
For example, the bronze rhinoceros statue from the Warring States period, now in the National Museum, realistically depicts a Sumatran rhino, adorned with intricate gold and silver cloud patterns, very exquisite and beautiful. Look here!"
Although the zoo didn't have the bronze rhinoceros statue, they displayed its image on a sign.
The statue was intricately carved with complex gold and silver patterns, resembling clouds.
Lifelike, with expressive eyes, it seemed like a living rhino walking through history towards the viewers!
"Wow!"
"So beautiful!"
"This is from the Warring States period? That's amazing!"
The visitors gathered around, marveling and admiring the exquisite craftsmanship of their ancestors!
The zookeeper continued, "Currently, there are five types of rhinos in the world: black and white rhinos in Africa, and Sumatran, Javan, and Indian rhinos in Asia. These species were once found in China.
Thousands of years ago, during the Yin and Shang dynasties, the climate in the North China Plain was warm and humid, more tropical. Rhinos and elephants had a wide range of activity.
But as agriculture expanded and the climate cooled, their habitat was compressed southward. Another factor was human influence.
Armies used their hides for armor, and doctors used their horns in medicine.
As demand for rhino horns grew, rhinos were hunted extensively, their numbers rapidly declined, and they disappeared from Chinese land."
"Ah~" The visitors sighed, feeling a mix of emotions.
It wasn't just rhinos.
Many animals are in dire straits, with the Hainan gibbon population down to just over 150, and green peacocks around 200-300.
Their fate hangs by a thread, teetering on the edge of extinction.
If not protected, they might follow in the rhinos' footsteps.
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