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To the visitors:
We've received a lot of emails and letters from foreign visitors since we opened the website last year and they 've given us many precious advice and suggestions on how to improve things in our zoo. Now we plan to establish a forum for the chosen emails from foreign visitors. The following is from Gerrit Borstel, a German University student:
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Dear editors,
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We vistited the Dalian Forest Zoo on Saturday, August 26th 2000. That was a warm and sunny day but with a gentle pleasant breeze coming from the sea. I'm from Germany and worked here in Dalian in a computing company for one month. I was with two friends from the company.
Though at home, I live very close to one, it had been a long time that I was to a zoo. We had planned to get there earlier but we couldn't so it was about 10 when we entered. We went along the entryway with its well-kempt plants, leading us a bit up the hill until we could see more of the way through the valley in front of us.
Seeking some shadow, we went on the above-ground train and had a pleasant ride to the main entry gate. We arrived at the stop of the train and got off, making our way across pigeon square towards the main entry gate of the zoo.
I have never been in a butterfly museum before and it was very impressive to see so many different kinds in one place. I think also the introduction and descriptions are very interesting so you should provide an English translation.
Making cages for the birds in the outside areas out of strings is a good thing, it looks better than metal cages.
Passing the funny Flamingos (I like the way they stand on one leg while they doze), we entered the houses of the Tropical Zone. I remember this kind of presentation from my home zoo, sultry all year long. Now of course, there was no difference between inside and outside. This was my favourite place because of the many birds, namely parrots they have there. I really like them because they have a human-like expresssion about them, being very interested in everything you do and some smaller ones even talk like "Ni Hao!". It's good that the parrots are not in a cage but can move a bit on their tree. It's perfect for playing with them and so I did. You should watch what food they get from the visitors, though. Perhaps you could free more birds temporarily of their cages inside the Rain Forest Zone.
After passing the lazy panda and the little animals' village we had a lunch break at the theatre of the seals' and parrots' show. The seals did their tricks, but what I found really amazing was the parrot which flew and fetched money notes from the audience and brought it to its master. It also came to us for a photo. The theatre would greatly benefit from a roof protecting the audience from the sun.
Once in a while we passed by one of the map panels where we could determine our position. I looked for little leaflets with this map on it to take with us but I didn't see them anywhere. Either I didn't find the vending place or they are just not sold which I think you should do because it will also make a great souvenir.
Of course you have many buildings made of concrete, so has our zoo at home and they don't look as nice as yours. But in some corners, a dash of fresh paint could work wonders, I think.
The way went up along the slope of the hill. We had a beautiful view on the valley underneath us and on parts of the city further away. It's good you provide these electric cars because it's hard for old people to go up there in the sun.
The little monkeys have a big area including many rocks which seem to be the ideal playground for them. It's fun watching them They also like to play around with the rubbish people threw in there and that's fine but maybe they eat the wrong things.
After a short rest in the shadow of a tree next to a camel we went to the bears and cats of prey (Wow, what a nice fur the leopard has..), then to the big area of the lions and tigers with the six, or rather five, brothers. I understand why this is the main attraction of the zoo. It's just so unusual to see a tiger with dogs in one place and it's cute.
On the whole, our visit to the Dalian Forest Zoo was a very pleasant experience, because both the animals shown and the zoo's landscape and greens which are well worth seeing.
Sincerely yours,
Gerrit Borstel |
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