(ECNS) -- Born in 1967, tiger breeder Ou Jingfang at Changchun Zoological and Botanical Park has been taking care of the animals around the clock during the COVID-19 pandemic in northeast China's Jilin Province.
Ou became an animal breeder in 1987 after systemic learning.
Ou said: "I have studied seven courses in a systemic way including biology, microbiology, anatomy, and nutrition, and learned from others with animal breeding experience."
Ou has been taking care of "Beast Valley" animals for more than two months since March 11.
He gave a name to every Siberian Tiger here and regard them as his own children.
Except for 17 tigers, he is also responsible for looking after three lions, five bears and a dozen wolves.
Ou said: "The working pace is totally different from that of before. We used to go to work at 8 a.m. every morning and let the animals out of their enclosures before 8: 30 a.m. But now we must release them in advance at around 4 a.m. due to the lack of breeders, and then begin to clean their enclosures, or we'll fail to finish because there are so many animals as well as enclosures. After cleaning, we will process the feed, which usually comprises over 100 kilograms of meat a day."
Ou said he is very glad to get along with tigers in his spare time, which can not only increase the bond between them but also help him learn about their health conditions.
Ou said: "I give them my whole heart because, in my eyes, they are just like my children."
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