Lhasa zoo reopens as spring arrives

The Chushul Zoo in Lhasa, Tibet autonomous region, resumed operations on Sunday after being closed for 140 days.

The zoo said on Tuesday that it had been closed to visitors for the past four months, because some of its animals cannot be left outside during winter months.

Tenzin Thubthen, deputy manager of the zoo, said that because there are fewer tourists in the winter, and some animals need to spend the season indoors, they decided to close from Nov 1.

"With temperatures rising, we made the decision to resume operations," he said.

The zoo, which opened in 2018, is located in Lhasa's Chushul county, 50 kilometers from the regional capital, and covers more than 80 hectares. It is Tibet's first and largest zoological garden, home to more than 300 animal species, including tiger, lion, zebra and alpaca.

According to Tenzin Thubthen, some of its animals, like snow leopards, Tibetan antelope and white-lip deer, are unique to the plateau region.

"It is a scenic spot integrating sightseeing, popular science education and plateau animal protection. We have also operated an animal rescue station since 2017, which has rescued 352 animals successfully, with a survival rate of above 85 percent," he said.

"Additionally, we promote domestication and breeding and have successfully bred 23 species, including tiger, lion, camel and alpaca."

The zoo has 60 employees, including 20 workers in charge of rescuing, feeding, breeding and providing medical treatment to the animals. "Rescue efforts are not limited to Chushul county. They also extend to the nearby cities of Lhokha, Nyingchi and Nagchu," Tenzin Thubthen said.

The zoo's daily hours of operation are from 10 am to 6:30 pm. Chushul residents get free admission with ID cards, while residents of Tibet pay 20 yuan ($3) for a ticket. Visitors from outside the region are charged 80 yuan.

"We urge visitors to keep a safe distance from the animals, and they should not feed them," Tenzin Thubthen said.

To attract more visitors, the zoo is running a special offer. Until April 20, anyone born under the Chinese zodiac sign of the tiger will get free admission.