Ms. Huynh Le Ngoc Diem, with 20 years of experience taking care of animals at the Zoo and 2 years of experience brushing hippos' teeth, shared about the hippo teeth brushing performance here.
She said that the show usually starts from 9:30 to 9:50 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday. However, the time can change depending on the hippos' cooperation.
"For example, the hippo that I take care of, if it comes up right away, the program will be faster. If it eats quickly, it will also be faster. On the contrary, if it is slow or eats slowly, the program will last longer" - Ms. Diem shared.
To ensure smooth coordination, Ms. Diem trained the hippos to get used to regular movements. She played music, brought food in, and knocked on the cage walls to call them. Once the hippos got used to these signals, they would automatically open their mouths to have their teeth brushed.
Watermelon is one of the hippopotamus' favorite foods.
Ms. Diem believes that the main purpose of this activity is not only to perform for tourists but also to create a connection between the caretakers and the animals.
Brushing a hippo's teeth is not too complicated. However, to train a hippo to cooperate in brushing its teeth, the caretaker needs to have a lot of patience.
"Although the hippo family is used to this activity, sometimes they don't want to perform, maybe they feel tired, noisy, or don't want to cooperate at that time. In this case, we will notify visitors and give them the opportunity to watch the hippo from afar or come back next time," said Ms. Diem.
Many tourists, especially children, enjoy watching hippos brush their teeth.
Work safety for animal caretakers is always a top priority when working with hippos at the Zoo. When interacting with hippos, staff must comply with regulations regarding clothing and approach.
The hippo tooth brushing performance is to ensure their health and comfort. Therefore, the animal caretakers at the Zoo always respect the animals' wishes and do not force them.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/can-canh-nguoi-phu-nu-danh-rang-cho-ha-ma-o-thao-cam-vien-196240602150955212.htm
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