Bamboo shipment gives giant pandas plenty to munch on at Shanghai Zoo

Many keepers slept on office sofas or in tents in the areas they work. Xiong Zhijie, who works at the amphibian enclosure, has been sleeping in the zone since March 27.

"Some colleagues have family to take care of, and I'm fit to stay since I'm single," said Xiong, whose work includes feeding snakes, cleaning the turtle enclosure and disinfecting the environment.

Despite the zoo being closed to the public, Wu Tong, the education and publicity officer of the zoo, has broadcast 10 livestreams and published a vlog series in the past month.

Through cameras, tens of thousands of people have watched the penguins strolling the quiet park, 2-month-old Arctic wolf cubs playing in the nursery, baboons fighting for domination and lion cubs learning to hunt prey.

"We want to provide people a window to peek into the animals' lives while the zoo's gate is closed," Wu said. "I hope the videos can keep people who are confined at home optimistic about life."