Recently, a scruffy lion at the Qianlingshan Zoo in Guiyang, Guizhou province, has become an internet sensation. Footage captured by multiple visitors shows the lion with dry and matted mane, resembling a “beggar”. The zoo explained that the lion doesn’t usually cooperate when it comes to bathing.
On August 24th, the topic of “Zoo Lion Goes Viral for Disliking Baths, Resembling a Beggar” trended on Baidu.
Staff at the Qianlingshan Zoo in Guiyang responded by stating that due to the climate and the lion’s habits, the lion is in good physical condition but doesn’t quite enjoy getting cleaned. Staff members mentioned that they will consider other methods for the lion’s hygiene in the future.
According to the staff, the African lion named “Zhou Nian” is over 8 years old and was introduced to the zoo at the end of 2017. Known for its fierce nature, the lion doesn’t tend to be very friendly towards humans.
As male lions reach adulthood, they develop long, dense manes on their shoulders and necks. The lion’s enclosure is situated deep in the forest where the humidity is high, causing the mane to stick together due to rain and moisture.
The staff further explained that they try to wash the lion on clear and dry days, but the lion often doesn’t cooperate, being quite temperamental.
The lion is known to roll in the sand and mud to protect itself from insects, which has led to its mane gradually becoming matted over the past two to three years, giving it the appearance resembling that of a beggar.
Some netizens have suggested using a high-pressure water gun to clean the lion. However, the zoo mentioned that the pressure from such a water gun could stress the animal and potentially harm it. The zoo plans to increase the bathing frequency, create a richer environment, plant more vegetation, and encourage the lion to groom itself by rubbing against plants or brushes. Additionally, the zoo intends to introduce both male and female lions to promote mutual grooming, which can help in mane maintenance.
Last August, a netizen from Guizhou raised concerns through a local media platform about the appearance of the lions at Qianlingshan Park, commenting that they used to look handsome but now appear neglected.
Subsequently, the local media visited the zoo to verify the situation. Zoo management explained that when the lion was introduced, it was still a subadult, and for safety reasons, they maintained a distance and couldn’t directly trim its hair.
The zoo had previously encouraged lions to groom themselves by planting ferns, bamboo, and installing plastic brushes. However, the external areas within the zoo, with years of bushes and bamboo overgrowth as well as the wearing down of the brushes, combined with the zoo’s location deep in the humid forested hills of Qianlingshan, have led to the lion’s mane becoming matted, resulting in its current appearance.