China Environment
Could China Accept Guide Dogs in Public?
Central theme on Weibo on the International day of the Handicapped: the acceptance of guide dogs in China still has a long way to go.
Trending today on Sina Weibo is the International Day of the Handicapped （国际残疾人日). The discussion “would you accept guide dogs in public transport” (#你愿和导盲犬同行吗#) became the hot topic of the day, as guide dogs will be allowed to enter the underground of Beijing from the 1st of May 2015.
Having dogs over 35cm high is prohibited in some areas of Beijing and many other cities in China. This includes the most common breed of guide dogs, that commonly have a height between 50-60cm.
The new rules of the Beijing government on guide dogs is widely supported on the Internet as netizens share their understanding of the importance of guide dogs to blind people. Weibo netizens share information on how guide dog are bred, and their friendly character, as they are specifically selected and trained to do their jobs. Many people hope that this information will help the general public accepting them.
Guide dogs generally have a gentle and willing temperament. They are trained not to behave aggressively in order not to harm their owners and other people. A moving example of this is a Japan-based guide dog named Oscar, who was stabbed while walking together with his owner to his work place last August. Since guide dogs are trained not to bark in order not to disturb their owner’s sense of direction, Oscar remained silent while being stabbed. His owner only knew of his wounds when the staff at a local store noticed he was bleeding. Because Oscar did not make any sound, the police was unable to identify the crime scene and track the attacker.
The total number of people who have visual difficulties (including blind person and people with low vision and visual impairment) in China is around 17 million. However there are only 67 guide dogs serving in Mainland China. Public acceptance has been one of the most important reasons why they have been refused. Will the Chinese people finally accept guide dogs in public? Most netizens have said yes, but there is still a long way to go.
The 8-year old Oscar (image via Japan Times).
As for Oscar, we are happy to report his working vest has protected him during the attack, and he has been recovering well.
– By Fan Bai
To know more about dogs in Chinese culture, read ‘20 Facts about Dogs in China‘.
Image used: Guide dogs trained in Dalian, China, China Daily.
China and Covid19
Fresh Off the Boat, Xiamen Fish Are Tested for Covid-19
Catch of the day! These fish in Xiamen can’t escape their daily Covid test.
It does not matter if you’re old or young, shrimp or fish – you can’t escape China’s zero-covid policy.
In the Jimei district of the coastal city of Xiamen, some fish and shrimp also had to do a nucleic acid test this week, leading to some banter on Chinese social media.
In the area, fishermen returning from a day of work have to undergo nucleic acid tests together with some of the fish that they caught during the day.
After the fishermen themselves have done the Covid test, they reportedly have to grab a few fresh fish from their catch of the day for the anti-epidemic workers to test. They open the mouth of the fish so that the fish can be tested with the cotton swab.
Chinese media outlet Sohu (搜狐新闻) posted a video about the issue on its Weibo account on August 17th, receiving over 90,000 likes and more than 8000 shares.
Catch of the day! It doesn't matter if you're young or old, fish or crab – can't escape China's zero-covid policy and the nucleic acid tests. pic.twitter.com/stoqsGyYf1
— Manya Koetse (@manyapan) August 17, 2022
“I thought fish didn’t any lungs?” a popular comment said, with other commenters suggesting that this news made it clear that Covid “doesn’t affect the lungs but the brain instead.”
Another commenter suggested that if this matter concerned authorities, they should also start testing mosquitos.
Some also felt bad for the fish: “They still have to undergo this before getting killed.”
“The fish should be grateful for receiving a Covid test for free,” others wrote, while there were also people who wondered if parts of the sea would go into lockdown mode if some fish would test positive for Covid.
There were also critical commenters wondering about any scientific reasoning behind testing fish, asking who was getting paid to test them – suggesting commercial benefits outweigh scientific basis in this case.
“You can’t get Covid if you don’t have lungs, let alone if you live in the sea,” one Weibo user wrote, another person asking: “Have we all gone mad?”
By Manya Koetse
With contributions by Miranda Barnes
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China Animals
‘Welcome Home, Molly’ – Chinese Zoo Elephant Returns to Kunming after Online Protest
One small step for animal protection in China, one giant leap for Molly the elephant.
The little elephant named Molly is a big topic of discussion on Chinese social media recently.
The popular Asian elephant, born in the Kunming Zoo in 2016, was separated from her mother at the age of two in April of 2018. Molly was then transferred from Kunming Zoo to Qinyang, Jiaozuo (Henan), in exchange for another elephant. Over the past few years, fans of Molly started voicing their concerns online as the elephant was trained to do tricks and performances and to carry around tourists on her back at the Qinyang Swan Lake Ecological Garden (沁阳天鹅湖生态园), the Qinyang Hesheng Forest Zoo (沁阳和生森林动物园), the Jiaozuo Forestry Zoo (焦作森林动物园), and the Zhoukou Safari Park (周口野生动物世界).
Since the summer of 2021, more people started speaking out for Molly’s welfare when they spotted the elephant chained up and seemingly unhappy, forced to do handstands or play harmonica, with Molly’s handlers using iron hooks to coerce her into performing.
Earlier this month, Molly became a big topic on Chinese social media again due to various big accounts on Xiaohongshu and Weibo posting about the ‘Save Molly’ campaign and calling for an elephant performance ban in China (read more).
Due 2 pandemic prevention measures in China, Molly’s zoo had been closed for long. It was just re-open & a Molly Group friend went to see her 2 days ago, shared a video and photos. The zoo was under much pressure from netizens, so no 🐘 shows, rides, at the moment. #FreeMolly pic.twitter.com/4BjoVk2DBC
— Diving paddler (@KU09814701) April 25, 2022
Although zookeepers denied any animal abuse and previously stated that the elephant is kept in good living conditions and that animal performances are no longer taking place, Molly’s story saw an unexpected turn this week. Thanks to the efforts of online netizens, Molly fans, and animal welfare activists, Molly was removed from Qinyang.
A popular edited image of Molly that has been shared a lot online.
On May 15, the Henan Forestry Bureau – which regulates the holding of all exotic species, including those in city zoos – announced that Molly would return to Kunming in order to provide “better living circumstances” for the elephant. A day later, on Monday, Molly left Qinyang and returned to the Kunming Zoo where she was born. In Kunming, Molly will first receive a thorough health check during the observation period.
Official announcement regarding Molly by the Henan Forestry Administration.
Good news. After many people’s working together for months, Molly‘s going back to Kunming Zoo to stay with her mom. Though Kunming Zoo has a very dark history, we will keep monitoring it to ensure Molly living in good condition. We will save other performing 🐘. #FreeMolly https://t.co/kC1uByyVpG pic.twitter.com/KhFlLpQgaa
— Diving paddler (@KU09814701) May 16, 2022
Many online commenters were happy to see Molly returning home. “Finally! This is great news,” many wrote, with others saying: “Please be good to her” and “Finally, after four years of hardship, Molly will be reunited with her mother.”
Besides regular Weibo accounts celebrating Molly’s return to Kunming, various Chinese state media accounts and official accounts (e.g. the Liaocheng Communist Youth League) also posted about Molly’s case and wished her a warm welcome and good wishes. One Weibo post on the matter by China News received over 76,000 likes on Monday.
Although many view the effective online ‘Save Molly’ campaign as an important milestone for animal welfare in China, some animal activists remind others that there are still other elephants in Chinese zoos who need help and better wildlife protection laws. Among them are the elephant Kamuli (卡目里) and two others who are still left in Qinyang.
For years, animal welfare activists in China and in other countries have been calling for Chinese animal protection laws. China does have wildlife protection laws, but they are often conflicting and do not apply to pets and there is no clear anti-animal abuse law.
“I’ll continue to follow this. What are the next arrangements? What is the plan for Molly and the other elephants? How will you guarantee a safe and proper living environment?”
Another Weibo user writes: “This is just a first step, there is much more to be done.”
To follow more updates regarding Molly, check out Twitter user ‘Diving Paddler’ here. We thank them for their contributions to this article.
To read more about zoos and wildlife parks causing online commotion in China, check our articles here.
By Manya Koetse
References (other sources linked to within text)
Arcus Foundation (Ed.). 2021. State of the Apes: Killing, Capture, Trade and Ape Conservation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
China Daily. 2012. “Animal Rights Groups Seek Performance Ban.” China Daily, April 16 http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2012-04/16/content_25152066.htm [Accessed May 1 2022].
Li, Peter J. 2021. Animal Welfare in China: Culture, Politics and Crisis. Sydney: Sydney University Press.
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