Chapter 738: The Sunbathing Black-Browed Ratsnake

The hippo's mouth opened wide, almost as high as the upper body of the keeper sitting by the pool.

It gave the impression that it could swallow the keeper whole with one bite!

The keeper's arm was probing inside the hippo's mouth, making the visitors hold their breath in suspense.

"Oh my, that mouth is huge!"

"If the hippo closed its mouth, wouldn't the arm be bitten off?"

Another keeper outside explained, "Don't worry, we regularly take care of the hippos and train them for this behavior. The hippo is familiar with this process. Cleaning its teeth and removing food residue feels quite comfortable for it, so it won't attack the keeper."

Someone curiously asked, "Why do you need to brush the hippo's teeth? Wouldn't they get cavities if you don't? Who brushes their teeth in the wild?"

"I remember in the wilds of Africa, there's a bird called the Egyptian plover, also known as the toothpick bird, that cleans the hippo's teeth! Since we don't have Egyptian plovers in the zoo, the keepers have to do it."

"Wait, isn't that bird supposed to clean crocodile teeth?"

Tang Xiaoxin said, "I know that the idea of the bird cleaning crocodile teeth is a myth; crocodiles don't actually need their teeth cleaned."

The keeper added, "In the wild, it's not the Egyptian plover cleaning their teeth. The plovers mainly eat insects or other aquatic animals. Since hippos primarily eat plants, what would the plovers be eating inside their mouths? The idea of them cleaning hippo teeth is even less plausible than cleaning crocodile teeth...

The real issue is the diet. The food in the zoo is more refined, including various sugary fruits. Food residues are more likely to cause cavities, so we need to help them brush and clean their teeth."

"Oh~"

Everyone responded in understanding.

The keeper carefully checked the hippo's mouth, especially the roots of the teeth.

Then, patting the hippo's thick upper lip with a "piapia" sound, the hippo opened its mouth wide!

The keeper soaked a brush in water and began brushing the hippo's teeth.

Brushing left and right, the hippo closed its eyes, looking very well-behaved!

"It looks like it's really enjoying it!"

"Haha, it looks like it's about to fall asleep!"

"See, even hippos need to brush their teeth. If you don't brush, your teeth will turn black and yellow. You need to brush your teeth every day, understand?"

Some parents took the opportunity to educate their children.

In about one or two minutes, the keeper finished, checked the cleanliness, and gave the hippo a gentle oral massage.

Then, he took out some sweet potatoes and pumpkins, placing them in the hippo's mouth as a reward for cooperating.

Patting the hippo's upper lip, the hippo knew it was done, closed its mouth, chewed a bit, and slowly sank back into the water.

"Brushing teeth and then eating, quite the routine!"

"As long as it doesn't poop, hippos are pretty cute!"

The visitors were delighted, clapping their hands.

...

In the local exhibit area, the paddy field had just been irrigated but not yet planted with rice.

Due to the pandemic, this season's farming activity was canceled, and the zoo staff would handle the planting.

As Tang Xiaoxin walked by the paddy field, she excitedly exclaimed, "Look, dragonflies!"

A few dragonflies were gracefully hovering in the air, their translucent wings shimmering with a colorful metallic gloss in the sunlight. Their abdomens were a vivid blood-red, stunningly beautiful.

Sometimes, they flew away like arrows, and sometimes, they stopped on the water's surface, their tails touching the water.

Occasionally, they perched on stones or delicate grass tips, folding their wings elegantly.

Unable to resist, Tang Xiaoxin took a closer look and snapped a few photos.

She had never paid much attention to such common creatures before, but now she found them quite beautiful.

The presence of dragonflies indicated a more complete ecosystem.

Just then, a red-whiskered bulbul suddenly appeared, swooping down and catching a dragonfly precisely.

It flew to a treetop, hopping around in front of another red-whiskered bulbul, seemingly courting.

The two birds flew and chased each other among the tree crowns, their cheerful chirping filling the air with vitality.

...

At the Black-Browed Ratsnake exhibit!

In the warm afternoon sun, a yellow and black snake lay quietly on the windowsill, coiled up and basking in the sunlight, exuding a peaceful, idyllic vibe.

A broom, bamboo sieve, broken bowl, darkened wall, and a picture of the Kitchen God added to the homely atmosphere.

This unique exhibit environment attracted many enthusiastic visitors.

Those who grew up in the countryside looked on with nostalgia, while those who had never been to the countryside watched with great interest.

On the glass, there was a small magnetic sticker with an arrow and the words "Look here."

Sometimes, the black-browed ratsnake would hide under the stove or behind a pickled vegetable jar or broom, making it hard to spot. Visitors who found it could adjust the sticker to help others locate it more easily.

Of course, at this moment, the black-browed ratsnake was openly sunbathing, easily spotted without needing the arrow.

The nearby information board explained that the black-browed ratsnake was named for the prominent black stripe behind its eyes and was also known as the flower snake, along with the king ratsnake.

Because of its large size, lack of venom, and slow movements, it is one of the most common edible snake species on the market.

Although marketed as farmed, a significant portion actually comes from the wild, pushing the black-browed ratsnake towards endangerment.

Wild snakes often carry numerous parasites like nematodes and tapeworms, making them dangerous to eat.

Moreover, the black-browed ratsnake plays a crucial role in controlling rodent populations, being a natural predator of the brown rat rampant in cities. Its slender body allows it to enter rat burrows and eliminate entire nests. Protecting snakes is, in essence, protecting ourselves.

Many people fear snakes, but understanding them reveals that 99% of snakes will flee or freeze when encountering humans. Stomping your feet can scare them away, and there's no need to harm or kill them.

Visitors commented, "This black-browed ratsnake looks quite handsome!"

"I've seen this snake before, but I never knew its name."

"When I was a kid, a flower snake came into our house! My dad heard the noise at night, got up, caught it, and threw it outside."

"They're really rare now. I hope they don't become the next yellow-breasted bunting."

"My house has a serious rat problem. At night, you can hear them climbing up and down the pipes, making a racket. They often get into the kitchen, and even if we put food on the cabinet, they can jump up, so we have to close the cabinet doors. We've tried traps, cages, and sticky boards, but they're as clever as ghosts. I really wish a black-browed ratsnake would come and deal with them."

"When people stop shouting to kill or cook snakes, maybe this idea will come true."