Shanghai Zoo officials are stepping up efforts to warn people about the dangers of feeding the animals after two deer died from ingesting plastic bags filled with food.

While they admit they don't have enough workers to increase surveillance, authorities are adding more warning signs and launching a publicity campaign to keep well-meaning visitors from endangering the zoo's inmates.

This is the second time they've had to take such action. In 1994, the female giraffe Haibin suffered a painful death from eating plastic bags.

The zoo stuffed her body and placed it near the gate in a graphic call for greater public awareness about animal protection.

Last week, a female fallow deer died from the same cause. On Tuesday, ingested plastic bags also killed a 7-year-old deer, mother of a 23-day-old animal.

"Within just five days, two lovely deer have left us forever," said Li Zhongkui, a zoo attendant.

Zoo Director Xiong Chengpei said some visitors feed animals with food and candy in plastic bags.

"Excessive and unsuitable food can damage an animal's digestive system, or even choke it," said Xiong.

Early this month, an attendant responsible for the fallow deer found a 6-year-old female to be running a fever and not eating. Believing the cause to be heat stroke, the zoo's veterinarian administered a saline solution.

On July 12, the deer passed away, leaving a plastic ball weighing 3.5 kilograms in the dissecting room. Just five days later, the new mother died from the same reason. Two kilograms of plastic bags were found in her stomach.

The zoo is now keeping a close eye on the remaining two deer, who appear underweight and also may have eaten plastic bags.

(Eastday.com.cn 07/20/2001)