TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Zoo hosted a series of events including a thousand-person egg balancing activity over the Dragon Boat Festival holiday on Monday (June 9), per a press release.
The egg-balancing activity took place in the zoo's main square from 10:50 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the zoo providing eggs and a flat surface. According to Taiwanese tradition, if one can balance an egg at noon during the Dragon Boat Festival, that person will have good luck and harmony the whole year.
According to folk customs, it is easy to balance an egg at noon during the Dragon Boat Festival due to the Earth's alignment with the sun. However, skeptics say egg balancing is possible throughout the year.
Those who signed up and completed the egg balancing challenge were treated to a special certificate and gift from the park. Other promotions such as a lucky draw and discounts are available at zoo gift shops on a limited-time basis.
Taipei Zoo also used the holiday to educate children about where their eggs come from and cruelty-free farming practices. Happy Hens Farm showed children the transition from battery cages to cage-free systems used by egg farmers around Taiwan, per the zoo website.
At Happy Hens Farm, children could watch hens move around freely, even hopping among perches while they lay their eggs in secluded spaces. Eggs produced from this farm are collected, washed, steamed, and fed to zoo animals.
In addition, a DIY wild cat sachet activity was held, as wearing scented sachets is another tradition during the Dragon Boat Festival. This year, sachets commemorated three cats at the zoo: recently acquired Malayan tigers, clouded leopards, and leopard cats.
Taipei Zoo Director Chen Yi-tsung (諶亦聰) said the zoo will celebrate its 110th anniversary in October. Chen invited everyone to the zoo not only during the Dragon Boat Festival but throughout the year to enjoy fun and educational activities.
