Teaching elephants to handstand and taking chimps shopping – the life of a WWF Ambassador
A Chinese pop sensation who is a Wildlife Ambassador for the WWF has come under fire after taking part in a reality TV show based at a zoo. In the series a number of Chinese celebrities take part in activities with animals such as teaching elephants how to perform and do handstands or taking chimps out clothes shopping.
The show is called Wonderful Friends and is based at the Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.
The show has caused a viral storm on the Chinese social media site Sina Weibo. Online science channel guokr.com also published a story on Saturday about inappropriate interactions between celebrities and chimpanzee cubs, including taking a cub to meet its father, which is rare in the wild.
Initially the uproar was about children trying to copy their celebrity idols but the argument has moved on to the impact and treatment of animals in the show.
Lights are kept on in animal enclosures for filming during the night which can disrupt animals sleep patterns and animals are expected to behaviour in unnatural ways.
Xu Lai, a chief editor at Guokr, told the Global Times that the show is giving the public an inaccurate idea of wild animals. “Early-stage research has proved that deliberate depiction of the ‘cuteness’ of wildlife may encourage illegal wildlife trade and decrease public support for protection in a devastating way.”
No one from the zoo or production team was willing to talk to the Global Times – a national Chinese media outlet.
The series began on 24th January and has proven to be a hit show for Hunan TV. The series follows 6 celebrities as they work at a safari park.
Clips of show:
Whale training
Of course annoying chimps make good TV
Performing elephants – just what every zoo needs
bunch of goofs..
Sad, so very sad!
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