Chao News client reporter Yu Qianwei Zou Chen.
The Year of the Dragon is approaching, and the flavor of the year is getting stronger.
In the Chinese zodiac, the dragon is the only animal that does not exist in reality, but it has been regarded as a god or holy object since ancient times, and is a symbol of good luck and high status.
Many emperors referred to themselves as "true dragon emperors" as a way to establish authority and consolidate royal power.
Where do dragons come from? What does it look like? Nobody knows. The more representative is the "nine likes" theory put forward by Luo Yuan of the Song Dynasty in "Erya Wing: Shi Long", that is, the dragon's "horns are like deer, the head is like a camel, the eyes are like a rabbit, the neck is like a snake, the belly is like a mirage, the scales are like a fish, the claws are like an eagle, the palm is like a tiger, and the ears are like a cow".
There is also a folk saying that the dragon is composed of nine kinds of animal bodies: shrimp eyes, antlers, bull noses, dog mouths, catfish whiskers, lion mane, fish scales, and snake tails.
These characteristics of dragons may be similar in zoos.
On the eve of the Spring Festival, Chao News reporters came to Shengzhou Huju Zoo and took everyone to "hunt for dragons" together.
Shengzhou Huju Zoo Photo by Chao News reporter Zou Chen.
One of the similarities: the same strong and powerful horns
A pair of iconic dragon horns, like what? I believe that most people will think of antlers at the first time.
The antlers are smooth and powerful, with many branches at the top, which contrasts with the graceful shape of the deer. The antlers of a buck are usually larger, like a crown, and are a symbol of status and status.
Antlers are also a traditional Chinese medicine, which has the effect of warming the kidneys and yang, strengthening the muscles and bones, and reducing blood and swelling.
Approaching the deer herd at the Tiger House Zoo, a male red deer with a pair of powerful antlers on its head stands out. It was taking a leisurely walk in the meadow.
As the leader, the male red deer also has three "wives" who are like flowers. When the reporter was watching, the female red deer were busy cooking. And the male red deer, with gentle eyes, will take a look at his "wife" from time to time, and will also walk up to reporters, stretch out their heads, and beg for snacks.
The red deer is second only to the reindeer in size and is a large deer that resembles a steed with a dark brown body and some white spots on its back and sides.
Horned like a deer Photo by Chao News reporter Zou Chen.
Compared with the tall and mighty red deer, the sika deer next to it is much smaller and more delicate.
The sika deer in winter, with smoky brown fur, covers the white spots on the surface. Hong Haiping, the manager of Huju Zoo, told reporters that only when the weather warms up, the spots of the sika deer will be revealed with the moulting.
There are two male sika deer and six female sika deer, but none of them have antlers. "The antlers have been trimmed. Because the two males will fight, so that they do not stab each other. Hong Haiping said.
Hong Haiping reminded that when the buck is in the first place, it is recommended that everyone stay away to prevent the buck from attacking people with its antlers due to a bad mood.
Similarity two: the head of a camel and the eyes of a rabbit
The camel's head is not pretty, with large round eyes, a thick, wide mouth, and a pair of long nostrils on the nose.
But in various accounts, the camel's head is indeed very similar to the dragon's head: the same protruding mouth, large mouth and large nostrils.
However, unlike the legendary dragon that calls the wind and rain, the camel is particularly lazy.
The head looks like a camel Photo by Chao News reporter Zou Chen.
The keeper said that the two camels in the Tiger House Zoo are usually idle, and they like to run around in the mud the most. When you are sleepy, you close your eyes and sleep standing up.
For most of the day, both camels opened their mouths frantically and yawned, as if they were migrant workers who had stayed up all night, and they couldn't sleep enough.
Looking at the dragon's eyes, as the saying goes, "the finishing touch" - the eyes are the brightest part of the dragon's body.
There are usually two descriptions, one says it's a red rabbit eye; Another theory states that it is a shrimp eye, and the eyes are bulging.
The reporter came to the rabbit park to find the answer.
Dozens of little white rabbits, some nesting together to eat forage, some are struggling to dig holes. The most interesting thing is that a little gray rabbit unexpectedly came to the guinea pig area next door. "The rabbit often makes holes, so it goes next door. To prevent them from visiting the door, we also built a low brick wall. ”
Eyes like rabbits Photo by Chao News reporter Zou Chen.
A white rabbit with red eyes that dripping and spinning. I have to say that the trick of punching holes and visiting the door has a fight with the wisdom of the dragon.
Similarity 3: The body resembles a combination of a snake and a koi fish
According to various historical records, the dragon's body is slender, snake-shaped, and the tail is not distinguished, and there are fins at the end.
The dragon's body was particularly similar to that of a giant python, long and singular, covered with heavy scales and shining with dazzling golden light.
This has to mention the ** python.
* Python adults are usually five or six meters long and can reach up to seven meters long, and females are larger than males. The whole body has a golden yellow color, with white irregular lines, smooth scales, and a large scale and hot cheek sockets on the top of the head.
However, it is a bit difficult to get a glimpse of the true face of the python in winter. Whenever the weather is cold, the python hibernates, hiding under the quilt placed by the keeper. The keeper will also turn on the warm light to keep the temperature of the glass box above 10.
Xiang Xiang is like a snake Photo by Chao News reporter Zou Chen.
Hong Haiping compared the appearance of the ** python while introducing its habits to reporters. She said, ** python has a tame personality, likes high temperature environments, has nothing to soak in water, and feeds on birds and mammals.
Around March, we feed him pure lean meat and then bathe him. "In the summer, the lid of the glass box will be replaced with a grid, and the ** python will be bathed once a week, and it will be about half a catty of meat to be fed once.
In the New Year, take good luck and go to explore the koi fish whose scales are very similar to those of dragons.
Koi, also known as wish fish and auspicious fish, have an average age of 60 or 70 years old, and the longest can live to 200 years old, which is regarded as a symbol of good luck because of its long life.
It's a pity that the temperature is low in winter, and the koi fish hide under the water at a depth of 2 meters. The breeder sprinkled a wave of feed in the water, and even if the fragrant ones were put in, the koi fish who were afraid of the cold still did not want to come out.
The bottom temperature is high, and there are also many microorganisms, which can meet the daily needs of koi. ”
The keeper suggested that when the spring flowers are in full bloom, children can come and experience the activity of feeding koi fish to the bottle. "They like to drink milk, and every time they feed the fish with a bottle, they grab you a mouthful. ”
Similarity four: the foot characteristics are claws like eagles and palms like tigers
Let's take a look at the characteristics of the dragon's feet, with sharp claws and thick palms, which can quickly grab prey and tear apart.
Which animal comes to mind?
Following the saying "claws like eagles and palms like tigers", the reporter went to see the "elders" in the Tiger Zoo.
Hong Haiping introduced that since the opening of the Tiger House Zoo in the late 90s of last century, there have been two generals who have lived here for a long time - Siberian tigers and African lions.
Mane like a lion Photo by tide news reporter Zou Chen.
In the predator area, Siberian tigers and African lions are neighbors. Breeders of predators are in charge of feeding them through a fence every time they are fed.
Siberian tigers are huge in size and have thick and perfect bodies. Don't look at it, it walks gracefully like a cat, but its sharp hooked claws and thick palms tear at its prey without sloppiness.
The African lion next door is very individual, licking and eating the glass with its tongue all the time. "Does it know that it's the New Year, and it's going to clean the glass and work hard here? Hong Haiping quipped.
The mane of a dragon is very similar to that of a lion, and it is supple and dense. The reporter took a closer look, and the mane of the African lion was mainly concentrated around the neck, like a fur, which was extravagant.
Similar to the dragon's claws, you also have to go to see the big-tempered owl.
When the reporter approached, they were squinting and pretending to sleep. The sharp claws tightly hooked the branches, motionless.
Claws like an eagle Photo by Chao News reporter Zou Chen.
The keeper tried to get close to the two owls, and they quickly flew up. It felt like we had disturbed their cleanliness, their bodies fried, and their mouths made a threatening sound like firecrackers.
Owls are nocturnal animals that sleep during the day. Hong Haiping introduced that owls are carnivorous animals, and their food is mainly rodents, insects, lizards, etc., and their heads are similar to cats, so they are named owls.
New Year's "Dragon Hunt", what kind of animal do you think dragons resemble? You may wish to go to the zoo to have a look, and you are also welcome to leave a message in the comment area to discuss.
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