Chinese Zoo to wed ram and deer
Image: STR/Agence France-Presse
A Chinese Zoo will hold a distinctly unconventional wedding on Valentine's Day after an equally unconventional relationship between a male sheep and a female deer captured the public imagination. According to China Daily, the Yunnan Provincial Wildlife Park in Kunming City of the South-Western Yunnan Province is selling tickets to the wedding at 66 yuan (£6.60, $10USD) each. 'Wedding clothes' are also being arranged for the happy couple.
Visitors have flocked to the Yunnan Provincial Wildlife Park to see the sheep Changmao (meaning 'long-haired') and the deer Chunzi (meaning 'pure'). The animals were raised together in a single group at the park because of their similar dietary requirements. "We put them together because they were all herbivores" said Liu Gencheng, a park official.
The zookeepers noted that the animals became affectionate towards one another, with Changmao attacking any male deer that approached Chunzi and Chunzi often licking Chungmao's hair. When Chungmao fathered a lamb last year and was moved to another enclosure, Chunzi squeezed through the fence to join him.
However, experts have warned against attaching human qualities to the behaviour of animals. The Xinhua official news agency has quoted biologist Wang Dajun opining that "Leaving them alone is the best choice."
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
