Zoo cat fight enters third round

Volunteers at Beijing Zoo who are concerned with stray cat welfare have been accused of irrational behavior by a leading animal aid organization.

Some of the volunteers claimed the zoo destroyed about 20 shelters for stray cats Tuesday, but the Capital Animal Welfare Association (CAWA), which has previously acted as a negotiator between the zoo and volunteers, has said it will now step away from further intervention in the case.

A volunteer, who asked for anonymity, told the Global Times that the zoo destroyed and removed the shelters she put in the woods on Tuesday, and alleged the zoo told her this was because of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

"Over 10 cats have died due to insufficient shelters so far," the volunteer said. She said she was worried the snow this coming weekend might threaten more cats' lives.

Ye Mingxia, the zoo's media officer, refused to comment and said she was unaware of the issue.

Qin Xiaona, president of CAWA, said she believes the volunteers have not considered the feelings of tourists or considered the animals in the zoo, as the shelters are too close to some wild animal zones.

"We failed to urge the volunteers to move the shelters to the north [of the zoo] as they agreed to in the negotiation two weeks ago," Qin said.

The zoo and CAWA, speaking on behalf of the volunteers, reached an agreement on October 23 to put some 20 cat shelters at the north part of the zoo, but the volunteers moved the shelters to the south several days later, according to the volunteer.

"Cats don't like to change their location, and they want to stay where they are used to living," the volunteer said.

Qin said the area where the stray cats currently live is home to other wild animals such elephants, and also has large crowds every day that would pose difficulties to the zoo to well-manage the general environment.

"I hope the volunteers will respect the zoo management team, and feed the cats in the northern woods," Qin said.

The volunteer denied the area was close to other animals and said she and her friends had decorated the shelters, bought lots of new mattresses, and also put them in the woods, not on the paths.

"No one will spot the shelters, and the cats won't chase around if they have a home," she said.