Hungry Weasel Begs For Food As Wuhan Lockdown Ends

Story By: John FengSub-EditorJoseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

AsiaWire

This footage seen 11 million times in less than 24 hours shows a hungry weasel ‘begging for food’ among crowds of people in Wuhan as the city finally ends its lockdown.

The rare video shot on Jianghan Road in downtown Wuhan, capital city of Hubei Province in Central China, shows life returning to normal as travel restrictions were ended at midnight yesterday (8th April).

But the 76-day lockdown appeared to affect not only humans, but also wild animals like the red-furred Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica), which had survived by scavenging human food waste.

As 11 million Wuhan residents flooded out of their homes for the first time since 23rd January, the weasel was seen darting among pedestrians in search of food, reports said.

In the viral clip, the lone animal can be seen standing on its hind legs near one man’s trouser legs as he carries a bag of fast food and offers the weasel a chip.

Wuhan’s reopening of its borders comes as local health officials report just two new COVID-19 cases in the last fortnight.

The city is where more than 80 percent of China’s 3,339 coronavirus-related deaths occurred.

On the first day of lockdown, more than 55,000 mostly migrant workers left by train and another 10,000 via Tianhe airport.

By 10th April, more than 100,0000 people are expected to leave the city.

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