Chapter 21

The zoo wasn't very crowded, but it certainly wasn't deserted either.

As one of the more successfully marketed zoos, Rongcheng Zoo was definitely well-equipped in every aspect, and parking was convenient.

Even before entering the zoo, Feng Yi could feel the atmosphere.

At the entrance, there were several employees dressed in cute animal costumes handing out brochures and posing for photos with visitors.

The various shops were also filled with animal elements, from snacks and drinks to daily necessities, each with its own unique features.

After swiping his ticket to enter, Feng Yi saw an introduction to a recent event on the notice board.

Due to a recent rat infestation in Rongcheng, people had developed a strong aversion to rats. Although the city had been cleaned up and the rats were mostly gone, the fear of rats still lingered. Some people even had psychological trauma, and children who had been scared by the rats would cry at the mention of the word "rat."

To address this, the zoo had specially arranged a rodent exhibition, featuring cute and adorable species such as guinea pigs, hamsters, squirrels, and chinchillas. Not all "rats" were that terrifying.

Feng Yi found the event interesting and followed the signs to the event venue.

When he arrived, he found that there were a lot of people, mostly parents with their children, many of whom had been scared by the rats during the infestation.

Seeing this, Feng Yi didn't want to join the crowd.

He scanned the area and noticed a science lecture was taking place, the topic being—

"The Impact of Coprophagy on Cognition in Rodents"

Feng Yi: "......"

He decided to leave.

After leaving the event venue, Feng Yi visited a few of the furry animal exhibits, which were also quite crowded, so he just watched from a distance.

Following the map, he headed towards the reptile and amphibian section, which was said to be less crowded.

Feng Yi had planned to see the venomous snakes first, but as he approached, he saw a foreign tour group heading towards the venomous snake area.

A middle-aged man with blonde hair was talking to someone next to him, taking pictures of a snake with his phone.

Feng Yi took a closer look.

It was a Chinese banded krait.

Before the climate anomaly, these snakes were relatively common.

The climate anomaly had a significant impact on oviparous animals, and during the nearly two decades, the hatching rate of wild oviparous animals hit record lows year after year. With eggs failing to hatch and adults dying from various diseases or age limits, their numbers could not increase. Some species were listed as functionally extinct due to this.

Ovoviviparous snakes fared slightly better, but their numbers also drastically decreased due to multiple factors.

For those who dislike snakes, the extinction of all snakes globally would be a dream come true. However, the collapse of the food chain would have a massive impact, affecting more than just a few species.

Seeing the foreign tour group ahead, Feng Yi decided not to visit the venomous snake area. He continued walking and came to the python area, where one of the zoo's star animals, a golden python named Niuniu, was housed.

The venomous snake area mostly featured native venomous snakes, which were not common or well-known in some countries. Therefore, the foreign tourists were more interested in these native venomous snakes. Golden pythons, on the other hand, were also found in many other countries, with some individuals reaching six to seven meters in length, and even larger ones existed.

Golden pythons were once kept as pets and mass-produced for sale, leading to a debate over whether they should be considered wild animals.

Later, private breeding without permits was banned, and stricter protection laws were enacted, making it more difficult to see golden pythons now, except in zoos or non-private venues.

The golden python at Rongcheng Zoo, named Niuniu, was nearly seven meters long.

Last year, the zoo organized an event where students were invited to visit and draw pictures of their favorite animals. The zoo selected ten of the best drawings to display in the visitor interaction area.

One student drew a personified version of Niuniu—Barbie Niuniu.

The zoo found it amusing and bought the copyright from the student and their parents, creating a series of personified golden python merchandise. Some people were so afraid of snakes that they could only accept them in a personified form.

The golden python was treated like a top-tier animal in the zoo, living in a forest-themed habitat that simulated a natural environment, complete with a water pool for soaking, and daily cleaning by staff.

Golden pythons, often kept as pets, were usually bred in captivity, making them more susceptible to diseases and less hardy compared to wild snakes. They had no wild populations and would likely not survive if released.

When Feng Yi arrived, the large python seemed to be resting, with ferns partially obscuring its body. From Feng Yi's angle, he could still see most of its head.

He stared at the exposed part of its head.

The large nostrils were quite prominent...

Oh, right, those weren't nostrils; they were heat-sensing pits.

Heat-sensing pits...

Feng Yi touched his face.

He wondered if he would develop a couple of dimples.

Perhaps his intense gaze or the presence of the golden python made it move from the corner.

Feng Yi stared at its eyes.

He had heard that snakes had poor eyesight, relying more on their heat-sensing pits.

Snakes' prey, mostly warm-blooded animals, made the heat-sensing pits a powerful tool. Of course, their forked tongues, which could detect scent molecules, were also a powerful tool.

Feng Yi wasn't interested in forked tongues and wondered when he might develop "dimples."

He remembered what the butler had said about how people viewed snakes—either as food or pets.

Definitely not as food.

He decided to view it as a pet.

He watched for a while.

No, it still wasn't as cute as the furry animals.

However, compared to other more terrifying snakes, the albino mutation was relatively better.

Feng Yi extended his fangs and greeted the python through the glass: "Hi~"

The golden python turned and quickly disappeared from view.

In the back of the forest-themed habitat, the keeper was cleaning and checking the equipment, such as the temperature and humidity controls, which needed to be checked daily.

While working, he saw the golden python slithering over, hissing.

In short, it was as if Niuniu had suddenly been upset and was grumbling as she came to the back.

The large python was usually gentle and had been in the zoo for a long time, often interacting with visitors through the glass and rarely showing any temper. Star animals weren't just there for their looks; they also had to draw crowds.

The exclusive forest-themed habitat was partly due to its own efforts.

The keeper put down his tools and stood up to see if any foolish visitor had made a threatening gesture.