A baby orangutan named Qixi at a zoo in Central China's Henan Province Photo: Screenshot from media outlet
An account named "Orangutan Dad," associated with the zoo and a self-proclaimed veteran keeper with over a decade of experience, has gained 21,000 followers by regularly posting videos of Qixi, the Paper reported.
The clips depict the orangutan living in a crib, dressed in human baby clothes, with her hair braided and frequently held, hugged, and petted by humans.
A staff member from the zoo told media outlets that Qixi, an 8-month-old female orangutan bred in captivity at the zoo, is entirely hand-reared, said the Paper. The staff claimed clothing was necessary due to local temperatures falling below the species’ ideal range, while braiding her hair was purely cosmetic. "We did it because long hair could block her eyes," said the worker.
The worker added that keepers occasionally take Qixi outside for sunlight, while she interacts with visitors. "We always carry disinfectant during these interactions, and she is bathed every other day to ensure safety," the worker said.
The zoo also emphasized that Qixi is still too young to walk and argued that captive breeding — requiring close human contact — is essential for expanding the orangutan population. "Orangutans develop just like human children," the zoo said.
The videos drew mixed reactions. Some netizens commented Qixi adorable, while others criticized the practices, insisting orangutans belong in the wild, where they can climb freely and that raising them like humans violates their natural instincts, the Paper said.
Some Animal welfare experts warned that orangutans require socialization with their own species, and isolation risks psychological harm. Frequent human interaction may also spread diseases, experts noted.
They condemned dressing Qixi, styling her hair, and arranging tourist interactions as detrimental to the animal’s well-being and promoting unethical wildlife entertainment, according to the Paper.
Global Times
