Kunming animal park bundles up

Download

Yunnan Wild Animal Park in Kunming is helping its animals bundle up to cope with a sudden drop in temperature after an intense winter snow.

A cold front hit Yunnan province on Friday, bringing heavy snow. The lowest temperature in the province dropped 18 C.

The temperature drop has affected the animals in the park, many that are from tropical climates.

While the temperature in downtown Kunming has dropped to 1 C, the temperature in the park, which is higher in elevation, was two degrees lower.

Li Kanglan, breeder of the adult orangutans, was asked to stay on duty through the night after Friday's snow. Thick quilts were prepared for the orangutans to replace their thinner blankets, Li said.

Li kept the heater on through the night, covered the apes with quilts and checked on them every two hours.

Li Xiulin is responsible for six baby animals, including a baboon, an orangutan and a macaque, most of whom are younger than 1 year. She said she has used a heat lamp and heater to keep the baby animals comfortable.

"I also placed thicker clothes on the baby orangutan and kept it in my arms to keep it warm," said Li Xiulin, who added that she is giving the babies two more meals per day.

Chen Huqiang, breeder of more than 30 reptiles at the park, said most of the reptiles in the park are from tropical zones and would likely die if the temperature fell below 5 C.

"I kept the heater on all the time to keep them warm," Chen said.

The park's pandas, however, have not been affected by the weather. Handlers said most are enjoying the snow and have even forgotten to eat at times.

Kang Zhongping, a panda breeder at the park, said the animals went out of their dens quite early on Monday morning to enjoy the snow and didn't come back to eat until he struck a food basin.

About the broadcaster:

Anne Ruisi is an editor at China Daily online with more than 30 years of experience as a newspaper editor and reporter. She has worked at newspapers in the U.S., including The Birmingham News in Alabama and City Newspaper of Rochester, N.Y.