Chongqing - For over two decades, Shen Wei has played the role of a dedicated father, nurturing cubs with unwavering devotion to ensure their healthy development.
Shen Wei is feeding the tiger cubs. (Photo/Li Wenke, Wang Chengjie)
Lifelong dedication to animal care
“Time to eat, Doudou, Xiaojin, Xiaohua... come over here!” At the Chongqing Lehe Ledu Animal Rescue and Breeding Center, Shen calls the cubs to gather around for their meal, seated in the midst of the lawn.
An ex-service member, he has dedicated twenty years of his life to wildlife nursery and rescue. He’s notably the first individual in China to successfully rear young kangaroos.
The acting-cute and milk-grabbing Bengal tiger looks like a big domesticated cat. (Photo/Li Wenke, Wang Chengjie)
Does this endearing and milk-hungry Bengal tiger remind you of your domesticated feline friend? Each time Shen Wei encounters these cubs, he greets them with a warm smile.
Born in Chongqing’s Yongchuan District, Shen Wei enlisted in 2001. “Every time I called home, my sister would regale me with fascinating tales from the zoo. Back then, I thought, what a joy it must be to care for animals.”
The tigers, known as “the kings of the animal kingdom,” have clear, innocent eyes. (Photo/Li Wenke, Wang Chengjie)
Despite the intimidating reputation of tigers as “the kings of the animal kingdom,” their clear, innocent eyes captured Shen Wei’s heart. It was this gaze that inspired him to become a zookeeper.
Upon retiring from the military, Shen Wei found solace in working at the safari park, with watching zookeepers feed the animals became his favorite pastime. Over time, he developed a special fondness for young animals.
Now, these tiger cubs are Shen Wei’s primary focus. (Photo/Li Wenke, Wang Chengjie)
Today, the zookeeper primarily focuses on nurturing tiger cubs, some as young as two or three months old.
The remarkable journey of cub rearing
Shen’s journey into raising these cubs began in 2013. While patrolling the animal enclosures one winter morning, he stumbled upon a kangaroo mother lifeless on the ground, with a tiny kangaroo pup, moaning and shivering, lying twenty meters away. The pup’s plight stirred his compassion.
Aware that raising a motherless kangaroo is an immense challenge, and there were no successful cases of artificial parenting in China, Shen Wei refused to give up. Without timely care, the baby kangaroo’s chances of survival were slim.
Shen Wei is the first person in China to raise a motherless baby kangaroo successfully. (Photo/Li Wenke, Wang Chengjie)
Shen Wei assumed the role of a “temporary father” to the young kangaroo, naming it “Xiao Mizha.” However, finding a suitable milk replacement presented a daunting challenge. After countless trials, he finally discovered that sheep’s milk could suffice, bringing him immense joy.
During its infancy, Xiao Mizha needed feeding every two hours, prompting its temporary father to set an alarm clock and stay awake around the clock. “I hardly had a moment to rest during that period because the alarm would ring shortly after I lay down,” Shen Wei recalled. This continued for approximately a year.
“I felt as if Xiao Mizha was my own child. Despite the fatigue, witnessing its healthy growth motivated me to persevere,” Shen Wei reminisced. After three years of companionship, Xiao was finally weaned, marking Shen as the first person in China to raise a baby kangaroo successfully.
He has led his team to rescue numerous newborn animals abandoned by their mothers for various reasons.
Shen Wei also did his utmost to raise these two leopard twins as if they were children. (Photo/Li Wenke, Wang Chengjie)
He also wholeheartedly cared for two leopard twins, treating them like his own children. They possessed an endearing charm similar to house cats, albeit a bit more robust.
Shen often assists newborn cubs with their bodily functions. “We can’t rely on enthusiasm alone; raising cubs is hard work that demands patience and meticulousness, sometimes even resulting in hands stained with animal waste,” he noted with a resigned expression.
Lions are resting under the shade. (Photo/Li Wenke, Wang Chengjie)
While observing an adult lion resting under the shade with a fierce countenance, the zookeeper reflected, “Adult lions may be fierce, but lion cubs are affectionate.”
The first female lion cub he raised was named “Duo Duo.” “Duo’s favorite spot was at my feet. Even after a year apart, when I visited her, I never doubted her ability to recognize me immediately, rushing over and acting like a spoiled child,” Shen recounted with a contented smile.
The newborn squirrel monkey is just palm-sized. (Photo/Li Wenke, Wang Chengjie)
The squirrel monkey residing in the incubator appears much smaller. When greeted, it responds with cheerful chirps. Shen personally tends to its needs, including feeding, diaper changes, and health monitoring.
The zookeeper can’t quite recall how many cubs he’s nurtured thus far. He simply remembers a diverse range of animals, including African lions, golden tigers, white tigers, squirrel monkeys, ring-tailed lemurs, and wolves.
Day after day, year after year, different cubs arrive, and Shen continues to release them back into the wild. “Some may grow weary of a single occupation over time, but the more I work, the more I grow attached,” he admitted.
Recognized as the Most Beautiful Veteran in Chongqing in 2023, Shen Wei’s determination and inspiration have led him to embrace the role of zookeeper as a vital aspect of his life. “Any cub entrusted to my care receives my utmost dedication, ensuring they grow up healthy and can eventually return to their natural habitat,” he affirmed.
(Liu Meihui, as an intern, also contributed to this report)