I have a wildlife zoo-Chapter 387: Looks Are Justice

"Wow, there are so many people here!"

Tang Xiaoxin was watching the pandas at the enclosure and suddenly felt a bit stuffy.

She turned her head in confusion and got a shock; without realizing it, she was surrounded by people.

Initially, there weren’t many people on the upper platform, but as time passed, visitors to the panda exhibit gradually increased, and many tourists had come up.

"Let’s go somewhere else!" Mother Tang suggested.

With so many people around, and the pandas beginning to eat bamboo, there was no more playing.

Father Tang was still reluctant to leave, feeling that looking down at the panda exhibit from above was getting more and more interesting.

Especially at the dividing line in the center, watching two pandas each living on one side, one eating bamboo and the other playing, each seeming to enjoy itself. The moving panda, the stationary exhibit, the flowing crowd outside, created a strange sense of harmony.

He shared his opinion, "Pandas need their own territorial space. Look at this male and female pair, living on opposite sides of the exhibit, not disturbing each other. We tourists are outside, they are inside, and we maintain a distance from the pandas. This creates a more harmonious relationship, doesn’t it?"

Xiaoxin exclaimed in surprise, "Dad, you’re a philosopher! You can see so much in just an exhibit."

She hadn’t thought that much about it, but after hearing her dad’s explanation, it made a lot of sense!

Back on the lower level, she thought and said, "You guys can look around here, see the other animals, and I want to read these information panels!"

Mother Tang glanced at the nearby Panda Restaurant and said, "Okay, then let’s meet up after 10 and have a meal at the Panda Restaurant!"

"Eating so early? Isn’t that too soon? I’m not even hungry yet."

Father Tang agreed, "If we’re to eat here, we have to do it early. If we wait too long, there definitely won’t be any seats left, especially with so many people here today."

Xiaoxin strolled in front of the educational information panels and saw a noticeable one with a cute picture of a panda lying on a tree. The title read, "Charisma Equals Justice!"

The panel read, "People are always drawn to beauty, and high-charisma animals in conservation biology are known as ’flagship species’.

With its lovable and cuddly appearance, the panda has become a star in the animal kingdom, loved by the public. There are also polar bears, elephants, river dolphins, golden hair monkeys, tigers, snow leopards, and the like; they’re all flagship species.

Compared to the complex concepts of ecology, flagship species have more appeal and can draw public attention, attracting support and even recruiting people to join conservation efforts.

Scientists have found that a zoo’s high-charisma animals can raise donations up to 46 times more than those with less appeal!"

Xiaoxin couldn’t help but comment, "Wow, what a world ruled by appearances, this is so realistic."

"Complementary to the flagship species concept are keystone species and umbrella species, indicator species.

Keystone species, also known as key species, play a crucial role in the ecosystem, like the pikas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau!

In the past two to three decades, pikas were considered pests that contributed to land desertification. After massive poisonings, many pikas died, and numerous raptors that preyed on the poisoned pikas died too.

Later, it was discovered that when pikas burrow and turn the soil, the soil’s water permeability and air permeability greatly improve, surface runoff is reduced, and the chances of soil erosion and floods decrease, making the grassland ecosystem healthier. In fact, it was excessive grazing by humans that led to the degradation of the grasslands.

The role of an umbrella species is to protect other species.

A species can play different roles at the same time, like the giant panda, which is both a flagship species and an umbrella species.

96% of the giant panda habitats overlap with hotspots for unique species in China. The giant panda acts like an umbrella; while people protect it, other animals in the habitat range are also sheltered.

Indicator species are those that can reflect changes in the environment, the composition of ecological communities..."

Xiaoxin suddenly understood, "So that’s how it is!"

She had previously seen people question the usefulness of protecting giant pandas and was somewhat puzzled herself, but now she finally understood.

Animals like pikas, wolves, and wild boars play important roles in the ecosystem, but because they lack charismatic appeal, ordinary people dislike them and even view them as pests.

Animals with high charisma, like the giant panda and green peafowl, can attract people’s attention and facilitate the promotion of conservation work, increasing public environmental awareness. They also serve as an umbrella that protects other animals.

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The title of the exhibition board, "Looks Are Justice," actually conveys a message to tourists: don’t judge animals solely by their appearance.

Tang Xiaoxin was somewhat touched inside and, after pondering for a moment, she began to stroll around again.

...

Ten o’clock!

Tang Xiaoxin and her parents gathered again and went to the Panda Restaurant.

Just as Mother Tang had guessed, there were already quite a few tourists dining, fearing there wouldn’t be any seats left if they arrived later.

Upon entering, they were greeted by a faint fragrance that lingered at the tip of the nose.

"It smells so good!"

Xiaoxin found it very strange; she wasn’t hungry at all since she had consumed a basket of steamed buns and a cup of soy milk before leaving that morning, but the aroma made her salivate uncontrollably and suddenly she felt an appetite.

After choosing a spot to sit, Father Tang promptly scanned the QR code on the table and, eager, started ordering food.

Mother Tang straightened up and looked around quietly, peeking at other people’s tables: "What dish did they order that smells so delicious?"

The table beside them was also a family with children out for fun!

On their table was a plate of Potato balls, a plate of shredded Potatoes, a plate of Potatoes with chicken chunks, and a plate of bamboo shoots...

Mother Tang suddenly noticed something amiss, feeling perplexed: "Why are there so many Potatoes? Who orders like this?"

But watching the adults and children, who all seemed to be relishing their food, displaying a profoundly enraptured expression, she noticed that another table was also filled with Potatoes!

"Gosh..."

Father Tang opened the ordering interface and suddenly exclaimed in a low voice.

Mother Tang leaned over: "What’s up?"

But then she was also startled!

The Panda Restaurant was positioned at an above-average level, with a family spending a few hundred yuan on several meals.

It wasn’t as economical as the animal-themed restaurants where a single set meal was sold for around forty yuan, nor as expensive as the Lion Restaurant, where indulging in a few steaks and barbecue could easily eclipse a thousand yuan.

However, because of the Potatoes brought by Fang Ye, there had been some changes in the menu prices...

Potato with chicken chunks: 78

Potato with chicken chunks deluxe: 188

Potato balls deluxe: 288 Stay updated via novelbuddy

"Waiter, waiter!"

The restaurant’s waiter came over, smiling: "Hello, how may I assist you?"

Father Tang pointed to the menu’s ’Potato with chicken chunks’ and asked in bewilderment: "Hey, what’s the difference between the deluxe version of the Potato with chicken chunks and the regular one? Why is there such a huge price difference?"

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The waiter respectfully explained: "Because the Potatoes are organic Potatoes grown by our director himself! They taste absolutely delightful, they’re healthy, natural, and pollutant-free."

Father Tang showed a look of astonishment and conflict: "The director grew these Potatoes?"

He could understand organic Potatoes being a little more expensive, but why this much more expensive? Just because the director grew them? And to describe them as delightful?

He tapped again on the Potato balls: "Then why do the Potato balls cost even more than the chicken chunks!?"

The waiter answered honestly: "Because the Potato balls use even more Potatoes!"

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