Fang Ye retrieved a somewhat neglected big salted fish from the system's storage space. He held it in front of the two wolves and asked, "Hey, do you like this?"
The two wolves were instantly captivated, turning their heads to inspect the treat and even attempting to sniff it.
Fang Ye then tossed the salted fish like a flying saucer, sending it about a meter away. Heitan's eyes gleamed with excitement as he leaped, stretching his paws and reaching for the sky. His tail shot up in anticipation, and he skillfully caught and bit into the big salted fish.
To Fang Ye's surprise, the treat was a big hit!
Xiaoyu, initially showing interest, decided to watch Heitan enjoy the treat. She sat back and observed, maintaining an air of composure, akin to that of a demure elder sister.
Fang Ye felt both delighted and a tad remorseful, recognizing the suboptimal conditions in which they were living. Traditionally, people often viewed zoos as shelters for animals, providing them with a safe space where they didn't need to fend for themselves. However, over time, it became clear that captivity deprived animals of the opportunity to express their natural instincts and abilities, leading to various stereotypical behaviors.
In the wild, animals had evolved to acquire specific abilities, such as hunting, courting, building nests, and raising offspring. Zoos, in contrast, limited their environments, leading to boredom, frustration, and, in some cases, the development of repetitive and distressing behaviors.
Fang Ye, contemplating this, concluded that zoos should focus on enriching the animals' lives rather than confining them. Enrichment items like the big salted fish were a simple step in the right direction.
To further enhance the animals' living environments, Fang Ye decided to purchase a dozen decorative deadwood items from the system and place two in each animal's enclosure. These deadwood pieces could serve as enriching elements for the animals, allowing them to engage with different textures and scents.
Before leaving, Fang Ye took the time to observe how the animals were enjoying the enrichment items.
"Lala, let's go to the zoo! We'll see the fox and the tiger!" Tang Xiaoxin excitedly called out to her stuffed bear backpack. She adjusted its shoulder straps to ensure a snug fit.
Xiao Heihei, her black cat, lay on the shoe rack, attentively watching her leaping around with her ponytails. Xiao Heihei nodded in agreement.
"Ruah, big tiger!" Tang Xiaoxin made a funny face and playfully pressed the bear backpack to her face.
Xiao Heihei, however, didn't seem to appreciate such intimate interactions. She rolled her eyes, extended a paw, and gently but firmly pushed Tang Xiaoxin's face away.
"Fine, you grumpy cat! I'm leaving now. Be a good girl while I'm gone!" Tang Xiaoxin, used to Xiao Heihei's indifference, gave her a pat on the head and left.
Tang Xiaoxin had developed an interest in the zoo, especially after seeing an adorable fox in a video. She'd learned that the fox was at a local zoo and had added the zoo's live stream to her favorites.
Despite wanting to visit the zoo, she hesitated after learning that the zoo was struggling financially. However, she was elated when she discovered that the zoo had a new arrival, a cute white tiger cub.
Tang Xiaoxin couldn't resist the allure of the cute little white tiger and decided to visit the zoo. She had already planned her route online and knew exactly which buses to take.
As she waited for the 35 bus to the zoo, she noticed that most of the other people at the stop were elderly individuals carrying baskets or pushing trolleys. She soon realized that they were shopping for groceries at the nearby farmers' market.
Fang Ye continued with his regular inspections, moving from one enclosure to another. He had placed the decorative deadwood items in the animals' enclosures, and they seemed to be enjoying them. The animals were more active and engaged than usual.
Fang Ye took pleasure in watching the animals explore and interact with the new enrichments. For the animals, the deadwood seemed to awaken some of their natural instincts.
As Fang Ye observed, he was approached by a voice calling out, "Director?"
He turned to see a girl about 1.5 meters tall, with a round face, soft ponytails on either side of her head, and dressed in a school uniform. She exuded curiosity, excitement, and a touch of nervousness.
Was it possible that she viewed him as an idol?
Fang Ye smiled and asked, "Do you know me, little friend?"
The girl enthusiastically nodded and replied, "Yes, I've seen your live broadcasts, and the little white tiger is so cute!"
She proceeded to ask a series of questions, her excitement evident. "How is the little white tiger now? Can the fox really understand what you're saying? How did you build such a good relationship with the big tiger?"
While Fang Ye was engaged in this conversation, the system remained silent.
"Ding! With the growth of your fame, tourists are starting to visit Linhai Zoo especially to see you. This is a milestone worth celebrating! Congratulations, you've received a mysterious gift pack."