Page 8 - IAV Digital Magazine #613

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Zoo Holding Auction For Paintings Made By Penguins, Giraffes
Chinese ‘Snow Village' Apologizes For Using Fake Snow
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/imnGSjuT2dM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RmQI8tgM5w
By Ben Hooper
Feb. 18 (UPI) -- A "snow vil- lage" attraction in China temporarily shut down and apologized to visitors for using fake snow made from cotton and soapy water.
The Chengdu Snow Village in Sichuan province issued an apology on social media after facing online criticism from visitors who arrived to find the "snow" was an unconvincing mixture of cot- ton and soapy water.
said the recent unusually warm weather forced them to use fake snow.
"It did not achieve the result we had anticipated, but left a bad impression among tourists," the statement said. "We are sincerely sorry for not being able to exhibit a real snow scene and making visitors change their travel plans."
The tourist attraction has been temporary shut down while officials look into other options.
By Ben Hooper
Zookeepers said they use various methods to encour- age the animals to paint as a fun enrichment activity.
"With our penguins as well, the easiest way for me to get them to paint is with food," Zookeeper Mikayla Conway told WBNG-TV. "They are very food moti- vated, and if some days they don't feel like using food, they will chase around a cat laser."
The zoo offered some sneak previews on social media, sharing photos of animals including penguins, capybaras, sloths and giraffes painting.
"Our artists are hard at work putting the finishing touches on their master- pieces for the Animal Art Auction," the post said.
Animal art aficionados who won't be in attendance at the gala will have the opportunity to place bids online, the zoo said.
The attraction's operators
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