The scheduled move of animals from the 54-year-old Changsha Zoo to a new and more spacious home on Monday afternoon was postponed because animals were not cooperative, zoo officials said. As of Monday afternoon, the animals were still at their old homes. Transportations are scheduled for Wednesday, according to zoo staffers. Local media Sanxiang City Express reported that the zoo conducted a day-long drill on Sunday but found many animals, especially the beasts, were not cooperative.

"Before the actual move takes place, it was necessary to conduct a rehearsal on getting the animals into cages and sheds," said Ma Zaiyu, director and senior engineer of the zoo's veterinary hospital.

Ma said large beasts, such as the tigers, are often reluctant to leave their long-time habitats. Placing the cages in their habitat area in advance and luring the beasts in with food will be the most efficient method, Ma said.

However, during Sunday's rehearsal, a 6-year-old Siberian tiger showed no interest in more than 10 pieces of fresh meat in the cage, so the attempt to lure the tiger into the cage did not work.

Ma also said special extendable cages had been designed to move the giraffes, in which the caged animals would have to lower their heads. This will allow the giraffes, between 6 and 7 meters tall, to pass through the 4.2-meter high gate of the old zoo. The giraffes have to take the longest route during transportation to avoid spots where the heights are limited, said Xie Zhongsan, an official with the Changsha Zoo.

Zheng Chuang, a manager with the Changsha Ecological Zoo, the animals' new home, said the animals will move late in the day, when the weather is cool. "It is to ensure the safety of the animals, which is our first priority. We can also avoid disturbing the public," Zheng told China Daily on Sunday at the old zoo.

He said the animals will not be injected with anesthetic. Animals will be transported in heavy trucks and shockproof cages.

Zheng turned down reporters' requests to visit the animals or watch the transportation process, out of concern that their presence would "scare the creatures". Built in 1956, the Changsha Zoo is located in the northeastern part of the city, with a total area of 280,000 square meters.

As of April this year, it reportedly kept 1,960 animals of 185 kinds. Local media reported early this year that the city government decided to relocate the animals because the old zoo's area is limited and the animal cages are located too close together.

The animals' new habitats are in the southern suburb area of the city, with an area 20 times that of the current one. After the relocation of the animals, the old zoo area will become part of its neighboring martyr memorial park, a place of interest in Changsha, local officials said over the weekend.