I have a wildlife zoo

"Can't tell, huh!"

"The one on the left is the male, right?"

The tourists speculated one after another.

The animal keeper smiled and said, "Indeed, it's not easy to tell normally, but it's simpler during the mating season. You can look at their behaviors and postures! In the early stages of estrus, the female swims ahead with the male chasing behind her.

However, after pairing up, it's the male that leads the female, especially during the incubation and chick-rearing period, they become more aggressive, protecting the female, who tends to be more docile."

"That's quite similar to us humans!"

"Absolutely!"

As they were talking, a white swan swam over from nearby.

The term 'great swan' refers not to size but to a specific species, like the 'little swan' and the 'knob-billed swan'.

The great swan swam directly toward the black swan couple, prompting both black swans to turn their heads and look at it.

We're in the middle of courting, what are you doing here?

Moved a bit to the side.

Yet the great swan didn't seem to have any intention of leaving, following them as they moved.

In this season with its sour stench, having moved to a nice new home, it also wanted to find a girl and have a sweet, sweet romance.

But in pursuit of a female, the girl played hard to get, cozying up to another swan instead.

It had just been mercilessly ditched by the girl, feeling heartbroken when it saw two swans swimming side by side.

Their necks occasionally touched intimately, rubbing gently against each other, exuding a tender affection. Occasionally, they'd both dip their heads into the water, searching for food together.

The more it watched, the angrier it became, jealousy burning fiercely in its heart.

I have no one, and yet you two want to fall in love?

Seeing the great swan approaching, head lowered, its wings slightly fluffed up, like a bull ready to charge, it looked quite menacing.

The two black swans immediately realized that they were being challenged!

The female quickly turned her head and swam backwards.

The male, seeing the great swan still intending to follow, started to call out shrilly in anger, standing up on the water and violently flapping its wings, charging at the great swan.

"Ah! Ah!"

The great swan, not one to back down, also flapped its large wings and confronted the black swan.

For a moment, the battle site of the two swans splashed with white water, spattering onto the nearby lotus leaves and causing them to tremble.

The tourists wondered curiously, "Why are the white swan and black swan fighting?"

Someone guessed, "Could it be jealousy over seeing others in love?"

"Ha ha, turns out it's a member of the FFF Inquisition!"

"Now you can really tell the males from the females."

The black swan felt this opponent was a bit tough to handle!

If this were its own kind, fighting over a mate, they would definitely have to determine who's stronger and who's the victor, beating the opponent into submission.

But with this great swan, it would only be foolhardy to fight, as the male and female had only mutual affection and he hadn't won her over yet.

Imagine, after the fight, if some handsome swan charmed her away while he was busy, that would be a total loss.

With that in mind, he flapped his wings, leading the great swan away!

The female swan stretched her neck, looking that way: "Ah! Ah!"

After a while, having thrown off the great swan and circled back, the male swan approached her attentively, calling out loudly, as if to boast about his recent prowess.

Girl, did you see me drive that annoying swan away!

The female swan also looked at him admiringly, "Ah~ Ah~"

Brother, are you hurt? I only feel pain for you~

A young couple, intimately leaning their heads close together, continued their sweet journey around Waterfowl Lake after exchanging heartfelt words.

...

Liu Xueqing and her partner had lunch at the zoo's animal restaurant before taking a short rest and resuming their stroll.

They hadn't seen the new animal star, the Pallas's cat.

As they stepped into the plateau exhibition area, they could feel the essence of the highlands.

The paths were a bluish-gray, capturing the raw feeling of rugged mountain rocks, while the exhibit walls were brick-red, mimicking the Danxia landform environment.

The nearby snack bar was tented, with Tibetan script written on it, giving the impression of a nomad's dwelling.

The atmosphere was spot-on.

They arrived at the Pallas's cat exhibit!

There were quite a few visitors, all gathered in front of the glass curtain wall.

Liu Xueqing looked curiously and happened to see a Pallas's cat walking along the edge of the glass curtain wall.

Its pudgy, round figure looked like a small grey watermelon!

This one was Sun Yuanxiao.

It lifted its head to look at the visitors outside, opened its eyes wide, maintaining a serious expression.

Yingying showed an expression of wonder and exclaimed, "Big Face Cat!"

Liu Xueqing found the Pallas's cat amusing as well!

How could there be an animal that looks so chubby?

The red panda looks quite pudgy, but this Pallas's cat is really just a ball.

In fact, the Pallas's cat resembles an owl a bit!

When an owl hunches down, it looks like a ball, and its fluffed-up feathers make it appear even chubbier.

It's actually because their feathers are fluffy and disheveled, like wearing a thick down jacket and pants; their bodies are quite slender underneath.

If the owl stood up and walked, its long legs paired with the round body would make anyone unaware think it's an alien.

Sun Yuanxiao stared seriously at the visitors outside; when a visitor noticed its comical and cute appearance and couldn't resist crouching down to extend a hand, shaking it through the glass, waving a greeting.

Sun Yuanxiao immediately bristled!

It wrinkled its nose, bared its sharp teeth, and glared at the visitors outside.

With a wide and flat head, neck slightly tensed, and an angry little look in its eyes, its serious demeanor somehow seemed a bit... cute?

Seeing Sun Yuanxiao's threatening behavior, the visitors nearby started to laugh, with a few more waving at it!

Sun Yuanxiao, looking quite indignant, appeared to swell up a bit, now even more rotund.

Its round front paws resting on the glass, it stared at the visitors and suddenly began furiously scratching up and down!

Its little short legs scratched rapidly against the glass, even producing a blur.

After scratching, it sat down, chest out, with its tail curled beside its buttocks, quivering sharply a couple of times.

Cocking its head, it stared at the visitors with big eyes and pursed lips, as if to say, "If it weren't for this glass, I'd scratch you clean!"

Turning its head to look to the side, it dashed away with a "swoosh."

Liu Xueqing read the information board's description: "The Pallas's cat may appear portly and round, but in fact, they are neither short nor overweight, and their legs are not stubby. They often crouch down into a ball and with their long, thick winter fur on, they resemble a sphere.

Pallas's cats have the thickest fur among small feline animals. Their dense fur provides excellent warmth, allowing them to walk on cold naked rocks and snow under minus thirty or forty degrees, braving the wind and snow.

Especially the long hair and down on their abdomens, which are beneficial for lying on frozen ground or snow for extended periods, waiting to ambush their prey.

Although they seem cute and clumsy, Pallas's cats are among the small feline species, the most tolerant of harsh environments!"

Liu Xueqing gained insight: "No wonder the Pallas's cats look so chubby! It turns out their long fur is for adapting to the cold."

The Pallas's cats have already changed their fur now, just appearing plump, but in the winter they truly become balls.