I have a wildlife zoo-Chapter 736 - 735 Brushing the Hippos Teeth

When it comes to recycling, globally, only about 10% of plastics are truly recycled, with 40% being difficult to recycle. The collection, sorting, processing, and reuse of waste require significant investment. Recycling isn’t a magic trick—placing plastics in recycling bins doesn’t make them transform into a new package without costs. It still consumes water and energy and can’t be done infinitely.

Even with a recycling system in place, many plastic products will still end up discarded, like being blown away by the wind and finally entering the oceans.

What we can do:

1. Reflect. When shopping, we usually only think about the product itself. Now we should consider whether we really need this item, and if there is an environmentally friendlier alternative. Companies will only change when they feel a demand from consumers.

2. Refuse unnecessary items and reduce plastic use. Do we really need things like straws to drink beverages? Bring your own water bottle when going out, and use a reusable bag for shopping, or re-use the plastic bag from last time.

Eat in at restaurants to decrease food deliveries, or at least bring your own chopsticks and spoon, and indicate that no utensils are needed. Your own utensils are cleaner and more sanitary than disposable ones.

On beaches, toothbrushes are also a common form of vast amounts of litter that eventually break down into myriad small fragments. Next time you buy a toothbrush, consider a biodegradable bamboo one or a design where the head can be replaced without needing to replace the handle, reducing some plastic.

These are small acts that anyone can perform and, if everyone does their part, a considerable amount of plastic waste can be reduced.

3. Repair. Consider repairing clothes, toys, or phones that are broken, to extend their lifecycle instead of immediately purchasing new ones. Clothes used to be worn for new for three years, kept for another three, and patched up for even more years. Nowadays, with an abundance of goods, it’s probably hard to even find a clothes repair shop. Perhaps, as environmental issues become more pressing, this custom will slowly return.

4. Reuse. Many second-hand websites now exist, such as the book trading platform Duozhuayu. A book originally priced at 160 might only cost 60 second-hand—how great is that? And after reading, books can be sold again to recoup some money.

As for recycling, it’s actually the least important compared to the previous steps. It’s a last resort, and as mentioned earlier, there are numerous challenges associated with recycling.

Our behavior towards the environment will continue to change as awareness increases. In the past, no one thought much of jaywalking, littering, or encouraging binge drinking, but although these behaviors haven’t disappeared completely, they have significantly decreased.

The sign provided plenty of specific examples, all of which ordinary people are capable of doing.

After viewing the sign, everyone looked thoughtful.

Perhaps it’s worth trying these in everyday life?

The issue of plastics is always mentioned, but who knew the situation was so serious.

Everyone enjoys the convenience brought by plastic, yet no one wants to live on a planet covered in non-degradable waste.

There’s a saying, ‘Do not commit evil, however small; do not neglect good, however trivial,’ which fits perfectly here.

Reducing the use of plastic products in small ways in our daily lives, cumulatively, can greatly improve the environment. If everyone is indifferent, plays the ostrich, and finds excuses not to act, by the time the problem becomes urgent and ‘our house is on fire,’ it will truly be beyond salvation.

…

After having lunch at the zoo’s animal restaurant, Tang Xiaoxin and her companions continued their visit in the afternoon.

The hippopotamus exhibit!

When they arrived, Tang Xiaoxin couldn’t help but fan her hand and say, “Oh my, that smell is so strong!”

Qian Keke laughed, “That’s the right scent!”

The hippopotamus exhibit, though frequently changing the water which looked clear, could not defy the hippos’ prolific waste-producing capabilities, which quickly filled the area with their distinctive scent.

This was a unique experience you could only get at the zoo.

At first glance, there were no hippos in sight, but following the gaze of other visitors, they could see a dark shadow under the water near the shore.

Chubby the hippo popped just the top of his head above water, resembling an inconspicuous grey rock, his round eyes taking in the surroundings.

That’s when an animal keeper in a uniform came over!

Upon seeing the keeper, Chubby stood up in the water, revealing his enormous body, followed by Dudu who also surfaced, creating a series of ripples on the calm water.

“Wow~”

“That’s amazing! So big!”

The visitors all exclaimed as they watched this scene!

It was as if a submarine had suddenly surfaced from the water, the impact was no less stunning than a beauty emerging from a bath, perhaps even more breathtaking.

The keeper would use a large brush to clean the hippos’ mouths thoroughly at regular intervals.

The two hippos, seeing the keeper with the brush, knew it was time for their teeth cleaning and eagerly opened their mouths wide, showing off their thick, sturdy teeth, ready for the cleaning service.

The keeper started with Chubby, rummaging inside his mouth, lifting thick flesh, and examining the health of his oral cavity.