The Shennongjia scenic area in Hubei, China, has long been shrouded in legends of wild creatures. Recently, the scenic area released a recruitment advertisement for animal observers, sparking heated discussions due to the requirement of being “physically fit and able to run fast when encountering wild creatures.” On Friday (the 12th), staff members explained that while indeed applicants are required to be physically fit, there is no physical fitness test during the assessment. Currently, there are nearly 100 applicants, with a higher proportion being male.
According to the recruitment information, the scenic area plans to recruit three animal observers with a monthly salary of 6,000 Chinese yuan, with the deadline for applications being April 16th. The job entails observing and rescuing animals within the scenic area, with a work cycle of three months. Applicants are required to be physically fit, able to run fast when encountering wild creatures, and able to withstand altitudes of 3000 meters without experiencing altitude sickness. They should also enjoy sharing their observations of animals and stargazing on social media platforms, possess good communication skills, and be able to respond promptly to comments from netizens, with a sense of humor.
The recruitment process is conducted online, where applicants are required to post an original video related to scenery or animals on their personal accounts, showcasing their editing and copywriting skills. The scenic area will then select 30 candidates and invite them to interview at Shennongjia, providing transportation from the high-speed railway station, as well as covering expenses for one day of accommodation and meals.
Regarding the recruitment advertisement, netizens have left various comments, most of them expressing interest in the term “wild creatures,” with some even stating that they are not short of money but simply want to see what wild creatures look like. Some believe that the content is merely self-promotion for the scenic area, stating, “I just visited recently. It’s barren, with grass shorter than rabbits. Wild creatures? They simply don’t exist in Shennongjia!” Additionally, some jest about whether compensation would be provided if one were captured by wild creatures, to which the official account of the scenic area replied, “No worries, we will spare no effort to rescue you.” Others express concerns about whether being attacked by wild animals would be considered a work-related injury, to which the scenic area replied, “It depends on who strikes first.”
Finally, staff members stated that encounters with wild creatures are unpredictable, and from the current inquiries and applications, male applicants are more predominant.
It is understood that the “wild creatures” of Shennongjia refer to mysterious primate-like creatures that have appeared in the Shennongjia area of China. The first recorded sighting occurred in 1974 when the deputy battalion commander of a production team in Shennongjia witnessed a wild creature and reported it. In 1976, five cadres of the Shennongjia Forestry District Party Committee and a driver witnessed a red-haired, 1.8 to 1.9 meters tall, upright-walking wild creature. In the same year, the Chinese Academy of Sciences organized the first wild creature exploration activity and launched the second exploration in 1977, with a total of 110 people participating, but no concrete evidence of the wild creature was obtained.
From 1974 to 2007, more than 360 witnesses in the Shennongjia Forestry District of Hubei Province experienced 110 sightings of nearly 120 wild creatures. During this period, there were cases where hair suspected to be from wild creatures was found, but later identified as fungus. Collectors also presented what they claimed to be footprints of wild creatures brought back from Shennongjia in the 1970s, but they were later identified as ordinary water-eroded silica oval stones.