A zoo in Shanghai is looking for a girlfriend for its 2-year-old male orangutan.
"She has to be about the same age, have lived in a group and possess mild temper," Yao Jianzhuang, a tamer in Shanghai Zoo who is taking care of the 2-year-old Qingqing, said.
A staff member at the zoo surnamed Pan said the zoo is searching for the mate through its own network, without advertising.
"It's not going to be easy," she said.
Orangutans are considered rare wild animals near extinction. There are only two at the Shanghai Zoo, one of them is 27, while Qingqing is two.
"The huge difference in age and size makes it impossible for them to play together," Yao said.
"Qingqing is very lonely."
Alone most of the time, Qingqing spends his days pushing boxes and swinging on the hammock again and again, if not looking at people. "Brought up by humans, Qingqing likes us and jumps on us with affection whenever he has a chance," he said.
"But we are trying to keep a certain distance from him, so he can mix with his own kind better in the future."
Yao said they have not found any abnormality in Qingqing caused by loneliness.
"But orangutans tend to become crabby after being alone for a long time," he said.
"We are hoping to find a girlfriend for Qingqing, who can play with him and then have children with him."
Source: China Daily
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