The Past of Xihong Zoo, the Conscience Zoo

Yang Lin was not surprised by the female reporter's question, so he merely thought for a moment before nodding.

"Speaking of the earliest batch of animals at West Rainbow Zoo, they are all considered my elders, some of whom even watched me grow up."

"Take the black ape at the entrance, for example. Don't let its erratic behavior fool you; it almost died when Grandpa Yang rescued it from a circus."

At this, everyone present couldn't help but become curious.

They never expected that the seemingly abnormal black ape had a circus background.

"About thirty years ago, Grandpa Yang spent 300 yuan to buy Grandpa Wei from a small circus. Back then, it was covered in wounds, yet it still occasionally performed bicycle-riding movements. To ease its pain, Grandpa Yang gave it a cigarette."

By now, everyone understood how the habitually erratic black ape developed a smoking habit.

"Wow, I never knew that's how it learned to smoke."

"Many animals develop lifelong stereotyped behaviors after being enslaved and trained by humans. For this ape to recover to its current state is already remarkable."

"If I were locked up and abused every day, I'd probably go crazier than it."

"Honestly, it's a miracle that this ape is still willing to interact with humans."

"So Grandpa Wei had it rough. Next time I visit the zoo, I'll bring it a good pack of cigarettes."

"It's been there since thirty years ago, so it must be in its late decades now. At this age, a few cigarettes won't hurt."

After discussing the black ape, Yang Lin continued to talk about other animals.

Without exception, each animal had a heartbreaking history.

Some were enslaved by circuses, others abandoned by humans, or trafficked by poachers.

Some were destined for the dinner table, others for being skinned, and some faced live bile extraction.

Even the dogs in the "Wangwang Squad" were rescued by Yang's father from a dog meat truck headed for a dog meat restaurant.

As Yang Lin spoke, reporter Zhang Meng's eyes reddened.

Just Yang Lin's narration was enough to move her, making it hard to imagine how these animals felt during their ordeals.

The audience in the live stream also fell into silence.

"Damn, I really wasn't human. When I visited West Rainbow Zoo before, I criticized the lack of animals and their unattractive looks."

"I never expected these animals were all saved by Grandpa Yang and Yang's father."

"No wonder the animals at this zoo seemed a bit off; they were all pitiful creatures."

"For decades, it's been a struggle for three generations of their family to support these animals."

"So their entire family's income goes into this zoo?"

"I knew this zoo was special when I saw that pig."

"Other zoos get government subsidies, but West Rainbow Zoo doesn't. In a time when people couldn't even afford to eat, they managed to feed such a large group of animals."

"As a local from Ningnan, I remember this zoo existed when I was a kid. It was Ningnan's first zoo, and the animals all had injuries. Grandpa Yang and his family seemed to live inside the zoo."

"Grandpa Yang is truly a saint."

"I used to think the 50 yuan ticket was a bit pricey, but now it seems completely reasonable."

"Considering how these animals looked before and how they look now, it's clear that only genuine love for animals could have transformed them like this."

...

To substantiate his claims, Yang Lin fetched an old photo album from his office.

Flipping through the album, photos of animals appeared.

Some were in black and white, others in color.

The earliest photo dated back forty years.

In these photos, one could see tourists posing with the animals.

As the album progressed, the number of photos decreased, but the animals' conditions visibly improved.

Seeing this record of West Rainbow Zoo's history, many viewers teared up.

Undoubtedly, West Rainbow Zoo is the last haven for these animals in this concrete jungle.

It is West Rainbow Zoo that has kept these animals, who have suffered greatly at the hands of humans, from losing their last trust in humanity.

"Even I, a tough guy, cried. Although I'm not a staunch animal rights advocate, if I have children in the future, I will definitely teach them to protect and cherish animals."

"For all these years, Grandpa Yang's family never mentioned this, and they have passed down this unprofitable zoo from generation to generation."

"Those who say West Rainbow Zoo makes money from animal performances, don't they have a conscience?"

"I think the animals at West Rainbow Zoo are in their most authentic state."

"Those who suggest releasing the animals should think twice. These animals, once domesticated, would be doomed if released into the wild, and they wouldn't be accepted by their own kind."

"Yes, this place is like home to them."

"I originally planned to visit West Rainbow Zoo during winter break, but now I've decided to buy tickets immediately."

"Why not open a donation channel for everyone to contribute to these animals? It shouldn't be just your family shouldering this burden."

"I don't begrudge them making money. If they don't, what will happen to these animals?"

"I suggest setting up a 24-hour live stream in the zoo to earn some live streaming tips."

"Yes, yes, each animal enclosure can have its own live stream, showing the animals' daily lives. I'd love to watch."

"I'll make a trip to West Rainbow Zoo for some wild spending. It's a pity there aren't many consumption spots inside the zoo."

...

At this moment, having learned the truth, netizens expressed more support than surprise for West Rainbow Zoo.

Soon, this scene from the Ningnan Online live stream was spontaneously shared by netizens across various video platforms.

More and more people learned about West Rainbow Zoo's past and history, as well as the story of three generations of the Yang family silently dedicating themselves to these animals.

The internet was soon abuzz, and West Rainbow Zoo was labeled as the most ethical zoo in history.