Chapter 369 Red Panda Plays in the Snow
The snowmaking machine hummed, and a layer of white snowflakes settled on the ginkgo leaves, which ranged from light to deep yellow, enveloping them in silvery garb.
Some leaves were already about to fall, and, burdened by the snowflakes, couldn't bear the weight. They twirled down with the snowflakes in tow.
Inside the red panda exhibit, the snow piled up thicker and thicker, turning from a sparse white to a dense covering, like a soft cotton blanket.
Chestnut was having a blast!
With its short legs kicking the snowflakes, it scampered down from a raised snowy slope—a furry adorable red ball bouncing continuously on the snowy ground, its deep brown tail spinning merrily like an uncontrolled rudder.
Running down the slope and trying to leap back up, unfortunately, its short legs were too short, and the ground was covered in fluffy snowflakes. Its paws slid on the snowflakes, failing to jump up, and instead, it took a tumble.
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Lying on its back with its black belly exposed, it was no big deal. With a roll, it got back up.
Two black paws paddled rapidly, clawing at the ground, tail flicking upwards, and this time it made the jump.
Rushing to the top of the slope, it then bounced and ran down the other side.
Racing down, it couldn't stop its momentum, its chubby butt sticking up, its speed unabated as it crashed into the snow, braking with its chin.
Chestnut quickly got up again, looking dazed like a drunken blur, zigzagging around, its tail also swaying back and forth.
It was as happy as a child who scored 100 points and was showered with praise by both teacher and parents, to the point of forgetting how to walk.
Approaching the edge of the play area, it slowed down, shook its head rapidly, and tossed off the snowflakes!
Standing beside the wall, it paused for a few seconds.
Then it got excited again, ran back to the snowy slope, raised its paws as if it wanted to leap onto a perch.
It made a feint. Hey, not jumping, just playing!
Its forelimbs landed back on the ground, it ran forward a bit, took a small jump, and grabbed onto a perch that was leaning against a ginkgo tree. Its belly curled up, swinging leisurely, as if performing on the parallel bars.
After swinging, it fell onto the snowy ground and resumed its mad dash.
Shuaishuai, perched on a branch of the ginkgo tree, seemed to have found something amusing. His paws stepped on the twigs, and a puff of snowflakes fell from the sky with each touch. Lingling, too, was running around in the snow, occasionally stumbling awkwardly.
The visitors outside the glass curtain wall watched the red pandas play in the snow, feeling their boundless happiness and excitement.
Influenced by their pure and simple joy, the corners of their eyes curled unconsciously, and smiles spread across their faces!
"Hey, still rolling around in the snow!"
"Running and jumping, can't stop at all."
"This red panda, seeing snow and being so happy, is too adorable!"
"Actually, as a southerner, I totally understand how it feels! When I went to university in the north and saw snow for the first time, I was so excited, screaming and running around like a fool. My northern classmates looked at me with sympathy!"
"Seeing how happy it is makes me a bit envious. I really wish we could have some snow here!"
Red Bean was a bit scared at first, hiding in a stone cave, showing only her white cheeks and eyebrows, sneakily peeking out.
Licking her tongue to detect scents, she looked adorably clueless.
After observing for a while, and seeing Chestnut bouncing around excitedly in the snow, she figured the snow outside might not be that dangerous!
Peeking her head out from the cave, looking left and right, she then walked out to start her exploration of the snowy ground.
Red Bean took her time, strolling leisurely in the snow, observing the changes in the surrounding scenery after it snowed.
Chestnut was originally lying in the snow, hugging a slender sapling and rubbing back and forth.
Noticing Red Bean walking over, it perked up its butt and tail to form a 90-degree angle with its upper body, creating an "L" shape. It kicked its hind legs, using the sapling as an axis, its face rubbing in the snow as it spun around.
Why is that posture so strange, because the red panda can!
As long as you're having fun and enjoying yourself, that's all that matters.
With head held high, watching Red Bean from behind a tree.
Let's give it a scare!
Chestnut made a dive and lunged towards Red Bean.
Red Bean got scared, her steps wobbling and her bottom bouncing as she started to trot in the snow, letting out a high-pitched cry.
Why are you chasing me!
The two red pandas chased each other, Red Bean running up a perch and stopping, Chestnut climbing halfway and also stopping, lying on the perch.
Chestnut was just playing and teasing with Red Bean, if Red Bean didn't run, he wouldn't chase.
Sliding to the side, all four paws embracing the perch, Chestnut turned into an upside-down position.
Looking down, he realized he wasn't far from the ground, relaxed his hind legs and then let go with his front paws, gracefully landing in the snow.
Chestnut and Red Bean faced each other from the perch and the ground, Chestnut standing up and raising his forelimbs, making a deterring posture before landing back on the ground.
It was actually an invitation to play!
I scared you, now is it your turn to scare me?
Sure enough, not to be outdone, Red Bean ran down from the perch and, with jumps and pounces, this time Chestnut was the one running ahead.
Over the snowy slope, leaping over rocks and perches!
Red Bean hopped and jumped, continually trying to pounce on Chestnut, aiming to catch his tail.
Chestnut turned around by the wall, and the two red pandas stood up with their hands raised, scaring each other in the snow, touching paws, and then tumbling together in the snow, scrabbling at each other's heads and ears.
After their playful fight, Red Bean got up from the ground, shook her head, and continued to stroll leisurely, exploring the snowy surroundings.
Seeing Red Bean was no longer playing, Chestnut went to play with Shuaishuai and Lingling.
Although there was a conflict with Shuaishuai, it wasn't a deep hatred; if in a bad mood, they might have a fight, but when in a good mood, they could still play together.
Several red pandas ran freely in the snow, played and frolicked, and the visitors excitedly "click, click" took pictures.
"Today was totally worth it!"
Fang Ye, outside the glass curtain wall, was happily watching the red pandas play inside the enclosure, while estimating the thickness of the snow.
The snowmaking machine worked quickly, and since the red panda exhibit wasn't large, after ten minutes, when Fang Ye saw that the snow was deep enough for the red pandas' paws to sink in, he turned off the snowmaking machine.
He directed several employees, "Let's go, to the red fox area!"
Foxes love snow, probably even more wild about it than the red pandas, and the bharals, as high-altitude animals, should also enjoy the snowfall.
After the snowflakes began to fall from the sky, a few red foxes looked up, not knowing what was happening, Youyou ran out from her den, even Xiaoqiao looked stunned.
They quickly became excited and started to frolic, tumbling around in the snow.
After laying a thin layer of snow in the area, they made the snow especially thick next to the fox hillock.
The snowmaking machine could produce 50 cubic meters of snow in an hour, spread over a 3000 square meter exhibit area, one hour could lay a bit over one centimeter, two hours would be quite thick, and it could last for at least 3 days without melting.
It took one day, and nearly half of the zoo's exhibits had turned into snowy landscapes!