A peculiar trend is spreading among young people in China. The trend? Relieving stress by touching sheep butts.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 29th of last month, a market in the northwestern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China recently saw a surge of tourists. Lined up before them were sheep tethered to ropes. The visitors would pass by, pet the sheep butts, and laugh.
Posts encouraging visits to the market in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to touch sheep’s bottoms are often seen on Chinese social media. Tourists who have experienced this have left reviews saying, “The bottoms are elastic and soft,” and “It’s addictive.”
Professor Zhang Yong, a psychologist at Wuhan University of Science and Technology in China, commented on the trend, stating, “Young people are trying to escape from the constraints of daily life through unconventional means.” However, Zhang cautioned, “Blindly following trends is not desirable. Such behavior reveals a lack of respect for animals.”
Meanwhile, a shepherd overseeing the sheep voiced concerns, “Excessive touching of the sheep could lead to depression in the animals.” He criticized the trend, saying, “People are only interested in relieving their stress and don’t care about the sheep.”
There are also hygiene concerns. One tourist who touched a sheep’s bottom later posted on social media about suffering from diarrhea and vomiting.
Chinese netizens are divided on the issue. One commented, “It’s an interesting way to relieve stress,” while another pointed out, “The sheep are pitiful.”
