From Yubei District: At 6:30 AM yesterday morning, on the lawn of the Donghe Spring residential area in Yubei District, a gray-brown娃娃fish approximately 70 centimeters long lay in the grass, emitting cries similar to those of a baby. Four cats squatted or stood guard around the娃娃fish, puffing out their whiskers and baring their claws as they swiped at its slippery body... This scene was just witnessed by Li Guiju, a resident who was exercising in the morning.
At 10:00 AM, after much effort, the staff managed to scoop the injured娃娃fish into a container. At this time, the娃娃fish was chasing a frog in the pond. Ten minutes later, the娃娃fish was transported to the Aquatic Research Institute. It was learned that there, the娃娃fish would be treated like a VIP and, under the protection of experts, would breed offspring. The娃娃fish weighed about 3 kilograms and measured nearly 70 centimeters in length.
How did a wild娃娃fish end up on the lawn of a residential area in the main urban district? Many onlookers speculated that it might have been secretly purchased by a restaurant nearby and had taken the opportunity to escape onto the street, mistakenly entering the residential area's lawn. The property management of the residential area believed that the ecological environment of the area was quite good, with squirrels occasionally seen, so it could "have crawled over from the Panxi River, which is about one kilometer away from the residential area."
Not long after, staff from the Yubei District Fishery Administration arrived. After observation, they stated that this娃娃fish was extremely wild, and its skin color and other characteristics indicated that it was indeed wild. The fishery administration personnel explained that when a wild娃娃fish is attacked, it emits sounds akin to a baby crying, and its sharp teeth can bite through a person's finger. Once the娃娃fish bites its food, it rotates its body like a crocodile to tear apart the food. Given that the tail of the娃娃fish had several bloody marks and its smooth skin couldn't be contained in an ordinary container, the fishery personnel immediately contacted the Municipal Aquatic Research Institute, hoping to treat it as soon as possible.
Some enthusiastic citizens called the police, and the property management of the Donghe Spring residential area was also anxious. After reporting to the police station, they were advised to first contact the Yubei District Forestry Bureau, after which the police arrived promptly.
The security guard, half-believing, went to the lawn and saw the娃娃fish showing its sharp teeth, with its tail scratched by the cats multiple times. Waving a wooden stick, shouting loudly, and kicking legs to drive them away... The security guard used all his tricks, and the four cats reluctantly ran off. Without considering the possibility of being bitten by the娃娃fish, the security guard picked it up and ran towards the gate - outside was a pool that had just been cleaned and filled with water by a former talent. Once in the water, the娃娃fish stopped making baby-like cries, wiggling its tail and swimming happily, drawing a crowd of onlookers.
Chief Reporter Huang Yanchun, Reporter Shi Zongwei
Network Editor: Kong Xiangwei
The fishery personnel analyzed that the most likely scenario was that an individual owner of the residential area had illegally purchased it and kept it at home temporarily. Before slaughtering it, it had escaped.
Li Guiju, aged 60, knowing that the娃娃fish is a protected animal, quickly shooed the cats away. However, the four cats, like mischievous children, kept their eyes and claws focused on the娃娃fish, leaving Li Grandma breathless. She then sought help from the residential area's security guards.