Actors from Disney+ drama ‘The Zoo’ return to Kaohsiung’s Shoushan Zoo
Disney+影集《動物園》的演員們重返高雄壽山動物園
| TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Cast members from the Disney+ limited drama series “The Zoo” returned to Kaohsiung’s Shoushan Zoo on Saturday, reuniting with the animals they cared for while filming the series.
Actors Shao Yu-wei (邵雨薇) and Wang Po-chieh (王柏傑), who portray zookeepers in the drama, revisited the zoo alongside director Su Wen-sheng (蘇文聖) for a VIP fan event promoting the series ahead of its Feb. 20 premiere, per CNA. Upon entering the white rhinoceros enclosure, the animals immediately approached the actors and allowed themselves to be gently petted for about 10 minutes, a moment organizers said reflected the strong bond formed during filming. The group also visited the zoo’s African elephant, Ali, who recognized the actors and approached to be fed, creating what attendees described as a touching display of trust between humans and animals. Reflecting on her experience, Shao said she was especially moved by the two white rhinos, Xi-qi (犀奇) and Bao-bao (寶寶), who often competed for attention during filming. “They were like affectionate pets,” Shao said, adding that interacting with the animals gave her a sense of healing and deepened her awareness of wildlife conservation. Wang said his character was responsible for caring for rhinos in the series and that he visited the zoo daily during filming to pet and talk to them, helping him understand the patience and responsibility required of zookeepers. Wang said it took time to build trust with the rhinos. Actor Mason Lee (李淳), who also stars in the series, recalled his first experience feeding African elephants during training for the role. He said feeling the heat of the elephant’s breath and sensing its massive presence was both intimidating and awe-inspiring. “It felt like walking into Jurassic Park and seeing a dinosaur for the first time,” Lee said. “The Zoo” will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m., with two new episodes released every Friday. TTV will begin airing the series on Sundays at 10 p.m. starting March 22, followed by GTV broadcasts on Sundays at 8 p.m. beginning May 10. |
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| Sean Scanlan Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2026-02-08 |
