According to the Beijing News, the plastic pool with a width of 3 meters and a length of 5 meters was specially painted with sea blue. Two sea lions floated and sank in this "ocean", and from time to time they jumped up with the small powder bucket containing Spanish mackerel by the animal trainer, clapping, pushing the ball and wearing a collar in the applause and background music. This scene is not in the aquarium, but in a shopping mall. In recent years, the Shang Yan of aquatic wild animals, such as sea lions and seals, has become increasingly hot, frequently appearing in the activities of large shopping malls and real estate enterprises. The leasing businesses of these sea lions and seals are mostly concentrated in Jiaxiang County, Jining City, a small county town of less than 1,000 square kilometers in Shandong Province. On the days when they are not performing, these sea lions are kept in the humble small yard in the village. In a cage of about 3 square meters, the water in the pool is turbid, and they howl from time to time, which can be clearly heard 100 meters away.
The harsh environment brings high risks. According to practitioners, in 2018, more than 30 sea lions died in Shang Yan. It is understood that the exhibition of aquatic wild animals such as sea lions and seals requires the qualification of Domestication and Breeding License and Operation and Utilization License, but the Beijing News reporter found that the Domestication and Breeding License, which was originally used to regulate the operation and utilization of wild animals, has become a "cash cow" or "amulet" for many businesses. Unlicensed operators borrow certificates from Shang Yan, and even directly purchase sea lions, seals and other national second-class protected animals in the name of "long-term lease". In this regard, some activists said that all domesticated wild animals should establish individual identification systems in order to achieve effective identification and protection.
On March 2, a trainer was training a sea lion to perform a header in Liangbaosi Town, Jiaxiang County, Shandong Province. The color steel board room on the side is the living area of sea lions, and the activity space of each sea lion is only about 3 square meters. Beijing News reporter Konka Hongchun Wang photo
"A sea lion earns 50 thousand in three days during the golden holiday."
In February this year, the police in Changxing Island, Dalian cracked a case of poaching of 100 spotted seal cubs. According to the poachers, they are going to sell these cubs to the aquarium for exhibition.
Searching for keywords such as "seal rental" and "sea lion rental" on the Internet shows that hundreds of companies can provide corresponding services. This includes a large number of breeding companies, etiquette companies, advertising companies and even department stores. Although their business scope is different, many companies are located in Jiaxiang County, Jining, Shandong Province.
Jiaxiang County is located in Jining City, Shandong Province, adjacent to the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in the east. Legend has it that it is the birthplace of Kirin. According to local people familiar with the matter, "Meng Chong" businesses such as sea lions and seals are mainly in Liangbaosi Town of the county. At first, some people learned the technology of taming sea lions from the aquarium in Anhui, and later returned to the local area to start animal rental business, and other families began to follow suit.
Although the information on the Internet is overwhelming, in Liangbaosi town, it is difficult to find these companies easily among scattered villages, and they can only contact through network information.
"No matter where you search for sea lion performances all over the country, what you find is here." On March 2, the reporter contacted Liangbaosi Town Weidpike Exhibition Service Co., Ltd., and its staff member Wang Liang (pseudonym) said that their usual mode is to cooperate with several media and advertising companies to advertise on Baidu. After these partners talk about their customers, the company will provide animals and domesticated personnel. Wang Liang revealed that the rental price is not high at ordinary times. A sea lion and a seal usually cost about 100,000 yuan a month, but a sea lion can earn 50,000 yuan in three days during prime time such as May Day and November Day.
Zhao Hai (a pseudonym), the head of Yide Etiquette Celebration Service Department in Liangbaosi Town, also said that although customers have seen more than 300 companies engaged in animal leasing and sea lion performances in Liangbaosi Town on the Internet, the actual companies that raise animals are only single digits, and those with legal qualifications are rare. "Usually, it is a’ leather bag company’ to talk to customers. If customers want to inspect, they will bring them to us to see animals on the spot."
The Beijing News reporter contacted more than 10 animal rental companies, but the addresses they provided for field visits were all duplicated with those of a few companies such as Wang Liang and Zhao Hai.
Local residents said that because of the high profit of animal rental, many people have become rich by doing animal rental business in the past two years. Some people drove Audi and others drove Mercedes-Benz.
Shandong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs released statistics in 2014. The utilization of aquatic wildlife in Shandong Province is mainly distributed in domestication and breeding, exhibition, catering service, marketing and other industries. In 2013, the operating income of the whole industry was 1.11 billion yuan, of which 680 million yuan was exhibited. There are 35 exhibition enterprises in the province, including 12 large-scale venues such as Aquarium, Aquarium and Underwater World. There are more than 30 kinds of aquatic wild animals such as sea lions, seals and seals, with more than 950 animals.
Daily domestication of sea lions displayed by an operator’s circle of friends.
Hai Shi Xun Yu Cang Shen farmhouse
The number of registered sea lions in Shandong Province is unknown for the time being, but only in Jiaxiang, a county that does not depend on the sea, there are no fewer than 20 sea lions according to rough statistics.
On the morning of March 2, the Beijing News reporter was taken by Zhao Hai to a yard in Sihe Village, Liangbaosi Town to inspect sea lions on the spot.
The yard is small and inconspicuous in the village, so it is difficult to find it if no one leads the way. On the open space in the middle of the courtyard, there is a pool about 10 square meters large and more than two meters deep for sea lion performance training. Next to the pool is a simple stage paved with tarpaulins. A row of color steel houses is the "living area" for captive sea lions, which is divided into more than ten cages by metal railings. Each cage has an area of about 3 square meters and is hung with numbers.
A room next to the living area is the "isolation area". According to the animal trainer, if a sea lion is sick, the sick sea lion will be isolated in order to prevent other sea lions from being infected.
In an iron basin near the pool, the thawed Spanish mackerel pieces smell fishy, which is the daily food of sea lions.
Whenever a customer comes to visit, the animal trainer will complete the performance with a small bucket filled with fish pieces and a sea lion. The whole process takes about 15 minutes, and the sea lion will complete many projects, such as heading the ball, clapping and catching plastic rings, under the guidance of the animal trainer. The sea lion will get a piece of fish as a reward for each action.
The animal trainer said that the performance of sea lions mainly depends on food temptation. Generally, a well-trained sea lion can perform three or four times a day, with a maximum of 20 minutes each time. "No way, if you are full, you will quit."
In Xinhe village, which is not more than 5 kilometers away from Sihe village, two other companies are doing the same business. An 8-year-old male sea lion is kept in a small courtyard on the north side of the main road in the village. The yard is still under construction, with a lot of building materials piled up. The newly-built stage is performing the same drama. The sea lion of about 80 kg repeatedly heads the ball, applauds and catches the plastic ring … with skillful movements.
In a hospital on the south side of the main road, the reporter saw another female sea lion. She was kept in a cage of about 3 square meters, and some of her fur fell off, and her mental state did not look good. Except for the hissing roar of sea lions from time to time, these two courtyards are no different from ordinary houses.
The Beijing News reporter visited a number of companies before and after. According to rough statistics, there are about 20 sea lions in Liangbaosi Town alone. In addition to sea lions and seals, these companies usually mix with seahorses, jellyfish, starfish, tropical fish and other varieties, but because these animals are difficult to "serve", they are all "disposable products" that die after use, so they only order from cooperative companies before use.
In the interview, many operators revealed that most of the sea lions and seals they domesticated were purchased from foreign trade companies in Tianjin and Hangzhou, while another company revealed that some of the domesticated seals also came from Dalian.
"More than 30 sea lions died in Shang Yan circle a year."
Although sea lions and seals are easier to raise than tropical fish, there are no small risks for these businesses. Many companies visited by the reporter said that there were sea lions and seals for rent, but there were no seals in the pool.
Manager Duan, the head of Jinan Hongrun Culture Media Co., Ltd., one of the companies, said that sea lions performed brilliantly and were more popular in the market. In contrast, it was difficult to domesticate seals and the breeding risk was higher. Generally, when introducing to customers, the company will repeatedly emphasize that the seal performance is not effective and "not affordable", and many customers will give up choosing seals after hearing similar news.
"Seals die easily, and we (the company) have destroyed many of them. Sea lions are relatively easy to raise, but last year, more than 30 sea lions died in this circle of Guanggan Shang Yan. " Manager Duan said that if the customer insists on using seals, the company can also call or buy them directly from trading companies or cooperative aquariums in Tianjin and Hangzhou, generally 30,000 to 50,000 yuan each.
Sea lions are prone to enteritis and other diseases due to eating unclean food, and may die after long-distance transportation. This is the experience accumulated by Manager Duan over the years. He said that Zhao Hai’s company lost two sea lions last year, "equivalent to a loss of more than 200,000". This is also confirmed by Zhao Hai.
Hu Chunmei, the person in charge of the "Animal Rescue Performance Project" in China, said that the relevant departments have detailed requirements on the water quality, water depth, space and area of aquatic wild animals such as sea lions and seals during the examination and approval. However, many companies in Shang Yan do not have these conditions, so it is difficult to take proper care of animals, and it is very easy to cause sea lions and seals to get sick and even die.
Regarding whether it is necessary to report to the relevant departments for animal Shang Yan activities, Wang Liang said that sea lions and seals are not aggressive and pose no danger to the audience, so there is no need for any qualification and reporting. However, manager Duan of Jinan Hongrun Culture Media Co., Ltd. said that with the increasing activities of marine animals in Shang Yan, many activists protested. In order to be on the safe side, he suggested taking a copy of the Domestication and Breeding License and going to the local fishery administration for the record first. "Say hello first, and everything will be easy later."
According to the industrial and commercial registration information, the business scope of Jinan Hongrun Culture Media Co., Ltd. includes the organization and planning of cultural and artistic exchange activities, celebration activities, etc., and does not include animal performances. The company keeps 8 sea lions in Zhaotudun Village, but the copy of the Permit for Domestication and Breeding of Aquatic Wild Animals provided by it belongs to Tianjin Green Language Animal Breeding Co., Ltd..
The license for domestication and breeding of aquatic wild animals belonging to Tianjin Green Language Animal Breeding Co., Ltd. shows that the license includes domestication of non-Australian fur sea lions, South American fur sea lions, California sea lions, South American sea lions and other animals.
Liangbaosi Town, Jiaxiang County, Shandong Province, is an inconspicuous farmhouse where a sea lion commercial exhibition company is hiding.
"Meng Chong" exhibitors often borrow certificates to operate.
This "Domestication and Breeding License" that appeared in Jiaxiang, Shandong Province across provinces and cities is not a case.
At the reporter’s repeated request, Wang Liang also received their company’s "qualification", which is the Permit for the Management and Utilization of Aquatic Wild Animals held by Huanhuan Marine Animal Exhibition Group in Yongqiao District, Suzhou City (Anhui Province).
On March 7th, the person in charge of Huanhuan Marine Animal Exhibition Group in Yongqiao District of Suzhou confirmed that the company has cooperation with Wang Liang’s company. According to the person in charge of Li, there are usually two modes of cooperation. One is to lease animals and cast members to partners for a long time to earn rent, and the other is to directly sell animals and lend them to the other party for relevant qualifications. "The cooperation with the company where Wang Liang is located in Xinhe Village belongs to the second mode."
During the reporter’s visit, the only person who showed his legal qualification voluntarily was Zhao Hai, but the license he showed did not belong to the Yi Yi Etiquette and Celebration Service Department as his own legal representative, but to Jining Dongheng Aquarium Co., Ltd. with his brother-in-law as the legal representative.
According to the business license of Dongheng Aquarium Co., Ltd., its business scope includes the domestication and exhibition of sea lions, fur seals, seals and turtles, the exhibition of ornamental fish and exhibition services. However, in the Permit for Management and Utilization of Aquatic Wild Animals and the Permit for Domestication and Breeding of Aquatic Wild Animals issued by Shandong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the only species approved by the company for artificial breeding is South American fur sea lions, the number of which is 4, and the source is written as Tianjin.
Zhao Hai said that his company has 11 sea lions and 2 seals, but because the relevant departments have hardware conditions for the survival of sea lions during the audit, "we can’t meet the standards, so we dare not apply for a license."
Even if it is a "borrowed" license, the number of licensed Shanghai lions is only four, and the number is not right. How to avoid risks? Zhao Hai said that the general demand for Shang Yan is not much, and the number of sea lions in Shang Yan should not exceed four at a time. "It is impossible to say that there are four on the certificate, and we will use six performances at a time." Zhao Hai also said that the company can "operate" seals that do not hold relevant licenses.
In addition to short-term leasing, Zhao Hai suggested that "long-term business" could be done: individuals and companies could buy sea lions and seals without qualification. "At present don’t have to do what certificate, directly with my certificate. If someone comes to check, it is a long-term lease, and it is not a problem to raise it for one or two years. "
Zhao Hai said that Dongheng Aquarium and Shaoshan City Seascape Water Park in Hunan have long-term cooperation, and both sea lions, personnel and relevant documents are provided by Dongheng.
On March 6th, the Beijing News reporter confirmed from a person in charge of the water park that it did cooperate with Dongheng Aquarium in Jining City in the summer to provide a full range of sea lion performances including qualifications. "They provided animals and animal trainers, and no one has checked them yet."
Real estate developers and shopping malls are big customers of animal Shang Yan.
Compared with long-term leasing, short-term leasing is more profitable, and major real estate developers and shopping malls are "fanatical fans" of short-term leasing.
During the Beijing News reporter’s visit, many animal rental businesses said that many well-known real estate companies are their main customers, and many of them are "repeat customers".
Internet search found that these enterprises did hold related exhibitions, which have become more frequent since 2013.
According to public statistics, during the period from June 16 to June 18, 2017, at least seven commercial squares held interactive performances of sea lions and seals, all over Zhengzhou, Henan, Xi ‘an, Shaanxi, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, Deyang, Sichuan, Liuzhou, Guangxi, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, Changchun, Jilin and other cities.
In the live picture of one of the performances, the exhibition board reads "Daqing in the middle of the year, national linkage". Sea lions perform in a pool 5 meters long and 3 meters wide, and are locked in a very narrow iron cage during rest. In addition to novelty, some people questioned that the pool water was dirty and black, the live sound was too loud, and tourists deliberately frightened sea lions and seals.
In August, 2018, Weibo, the official of a commercial plaza in Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, apologized for the use of sea lion performances in the annual activities after passive insurance volunteers reported it, and said that such activities would be resolutely put an end to in the future.
Real estate enterprises are also keen on such activities.
The reporter found that during the period from November 10th to November 18th, 2018, a sales center in jinfeng district, Yinchuan City, Ningxia held a "Dream City Ocean Exhibition", including sea lion interaction, shark, marine fish, jellyfish and penguin exhibitions. In addition, many well-known real estate enterprises in China have also been involved in animal exhibitions for many times.
Before the Spring Festival, two sea lions were loaded into cars and went to their destination for Shang Yan.
Individual identification system of domesticated animals to be established
Can the lent Domestication and Breeding License make the animal show legal?
China’s Wildlife Protection Law stipulates that it is forbidden to forge, alter, buy, sell, transfer or lease special hunting and catching licenses, hunting license, artificial breeding licenses and special marks, sell, buy or use the approval documents of wildlife under special state protection and its products, or allow import and export certificates, import and export and other approval documents. For those who forge, alter, trade, transfer or lease relevant certificates, special marks or relevant approval documents, the wildlife protection department of the people’s government at or above the county level shall confiscate the illegal certificates, special marks, relevant approval documents and illegal income and impose a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan but not more than 250,000 yuan.
According to the "Regulations for the Implementation of Aquatic Wildlife Protection in People’s Republic of China (PRC) (Revised Draft)" issued by the former Ministry of Agriculture in May 2017, those who rent aquatic wildlife for artificial breeding or exhibition should also obtain the approval of artificial breeding license and business utilization license according to law. At present, the revised draft has not yet been implemented.
Hu Chunmei, the head of the organization "Save the Animals Show Project", said that animal shows of sea lions, seals and penguins have become very common in China. Although the Wildlife Protection Law clearly stipulates that it is forbidden to transfer or lease the relevant licenses, "in practice, as long as the lessor’s documents are true, it is generally not necessary to deal with both parties."
Hu Chunmei believes that the lending of relevant licenses has spawned many problems, including harboring poaching, illegal sources of animals, and the black market trade after animals die. Originally, it should be the first pass to protect wild animals, but in recent years, it has been improperly used and turned into a "amulet" for illegal businesses.
For the identification and management of domesticated animals, relevant authorities have been exploring effective methods.
As early as 2014, the relevant departments of Shandong Province issued a message, saying that they would strive to establish an individual identification system for all protected mammals domesticated in all aquariums and exhibition venues in the province in two years, and establish a one-to-one corresponding animal "ID card" ID, in-vivo biomarker and gene bank, so as to effectively identify the animal’s identity and ensure that the protected animals "all have identities, can be monitored at all times and can be traced everywhere".
However, Hu Chunmei, director of the "Save the Animals Show Project", said that at present, most protected animals have not established a valid "ID card" ID, which directly leads to the inability to trace whether their sources are legal. "Even national first-class wild protected animals like tigers can’t identify themselves, let alone sea lions, seals, bears and monkeys."
Chen Shang, a researcher at the First Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources, made suggestions in the relevant discussion meeting in view of the vague source of sea animals in aquariums and other places. He said that DNA should be identified by collecting saliva, feces, urine, etc. of sea animals, and a DNA labeling system should be implemented for sea animals in aquariums. "In this way, when doing law enforcement inspections in aquariums and other places, how many are only legal and compliant? It is very clear."
Original title: Behind the illegal performance of sea lions: lending documents into "amulets")
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