Parrots raised in Shanxi zoo show a variety of talents

By ECNS

The parrot capable of opening caps, piecing jigsaw and even scoring a basket is from the Taiyuan Zoo, Shanxi Province.

It is one of parrots bred by 42-year-old Zheng Yuwei, who has been training the bird for more than 20 years.

Zheng said training parrots differs with the forced performance in circuses. It aims to help parrots adapt to the zoo life.

Parrots trained by Zheng Yuwei are versatile and very popular among children.

Zheng said individual-bred parrots tend to be depressed, hurting themselves, such as plucking their hair.

The depression is hard to cure so that rich activities have to be arranged for them in order to change this situation, he added.

People who raise animals should regard them as families and friends, said Zheng.