Sick and Dangerous Entertainment in China

Chinese safari parks stop live feeding shows

BEIJING : Chinese safari parks have agreed to stop staging live feeding shows in which horses and oxen are given to tigers who tear them to pieces for visitors' entertainment. The ban, however, only applies to large domesticated animals, the Xinhua news agency said, and only when the park is open to visitors.

Park patrons will still be allowed to throw live birds at the voracious predators, and live feedings of large animals will still be allowed after opening hours.

Managers of 22 safari parks in China agreed to the ban last week following criticism that such practices lead people to believe that animals, both hunter and prey, are human playthings, Xinhua said.