Security guard at Baotu Spring holding chubby carp goes viral, calls for tourists to avoid overfeeding

During the weeklong National Day holidays, Baotu Spring in East China’s Shandong Province, one of the famous attractions, was crowded with tourists. However, a scene of a security guard holding a chubby carp and persuading tourists not to overfeed the fish has recently gone viral.

This scene then triggered public debate on civilized travel, as some netizens who watched the video said the fish “was indeed too fat to swim.”

The security guard, Zhang Shoujun, said he was trying to gently remind visitors not to overfeed the fish because the water resources there are very nutrient-rich, enough for the fish to survive, according to China Central Television (CCTV).

Due to the large influx of visitors during the National Day holidays, many tourists were drawn to the fish and wanted to feed them, Zhang said. 

This led to instances of overfeeding, which negatively impacted the water quality and overall environment of the pool.

To prevent tourists from over-feeding the carp in the pond, the scenic area has implemented measures such as setting up reminder signs and increasing the number of volunteers in the area to guide tourists towards responsible behavior, as reported by the CCTV.