BEIJING (SCMP): A panda in China which would not let go of a mobile phone a tourist accidentally dropped into his enclosure has been dubbed a ‘smartphone addict’ by online observers.
On February 22, a visitor accidentally dropped their mobile phone while filming the giant panda, Qingling, at the Dujiangyan Panda Base in southwestern China’s Sichuan province.
The three-year-old panda grabbed the phone as if it were his new toy.
He played around with it and even held it in a way that looked like he was taking a selfie.
Using carrots as bait, zoo staff tried to snatch the phone from Qingling’s hand with an extension grabber but failed.
Qingling managed to enjoy some extra food without giving up the phone.
Eventually, staff retrieved the phone after the panda lost interest in it.
“It looks as if the panda became addicted to the smartphone like we do,” said one online observer.
Others feared the bear might eat it and fall ill.
“This is not fun. It can be dangerous for the panda. People should be educated not to throw or drop anything into animals’ enclosures,” said another person.
Piglet saves his bacon
Mainland social media has been impressed not only that a performing piglet could spin a hoop on the end of its nose, but that the porker’s trick saved it from the Chinese New Year dinner table.
It is a tradition in the countryside across China to kill pigs and cook pork dishes to celebrate the Spring Festival.
In a village in northern China’s Hebei province, a piglet escaped its fate by learning the hoop-spinning trick.
The piglet’s owner, a farmer, posted a film of the animal performing the trick with dozens of other piglets behind it.
He had been posting videos of him teaching his pigs tricks for years, with captions like ‘We will not eat you in the New Year”.
One online observer said that the pig had taught him that ‘skills change destiny’.
Gold rush-lite
As gold jewellery becomes increasingly unaffordable, Chinese youngsters are turning to lightweight gold foil to satisfy their shopping mania.
With the price of gold at over 1,100 yuan (US$160) per gram, having grown by almost 70 per cent compared with February last year, young people are turning to a cheaper alternative that costs just 100 yuan per piece.
The foil is pure gold but only weighs between 0.01 and 0.02 grams and is often painted with auspicious messages.
Online shops sell gold-foil stickers that can be attached to phones.
Many buy them for good luck; others buy the foil as gifts for friends.
Xie Zhaohan, a researcher at Ningbo University’s Business School, said gold foils satisfy people’s need for happiness simply by the act of buying real gold. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
