Animal trainer locks daughter, 9, in cage with wolves

It is a sight that would terrify almost any parent: Their child locked inside a cage with large predators.

Not for Zhu Yongsheng. In fact, it would be no surprise to find the recent pictures of his daughter locked in with wolves plastered in a family photo album under the words "happy memories."

The animal trainer has faced a storm of criticism for a stunt on April 1 that saw 10-year-old Zhu Lin, clad only in army fatigues, play with - and even kiss - the beasts in front of an audience at a dog show in Northwest China.

Many people reacted angrily after seeing images of the performance online, with some accusing Zhu Yongsheng of child abuse.

"The father is the trainer, so he should be the one in the cage," read one typical post on Sina Weibo, the popular micro-blogging website. "She (his daughter) will be damaged both physically and mentally for a lifetime."

However, father and daughter have both strongly dismissed any claim that the stunt was risky, suggesting that the furor has stemmed from misinformation in the media.

"They (the wolves) are my brothers," Zhu Lin said on Saturday.

As she spoke, she scratched behind the ear of one of the 2-year-old wolves she was pictured with. Both have been with the family since they were pups. "We're very close. They know me."

Like most girls her age, she is an avid reader and enjoys sports. However, she added, working with animals "is far more fun than school."

Her father keeps about 50 dogs and 10 wolves at his training base in southern Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Of course, working with wild animals always carries a certain amount of danger, Zhu Lin conceded.

"I can't remember how many times I've been bitten by my 'brothers' during exercises," the young trainer said. "The pain usually only lasts for a few minutes, and their teeth marks just look like those left by an electric cattle prod."

Bites are a natural part of the job, according to her father.

Click on thumbnail to view (Photos: China Daily)