Animal abuse alleged at Beijing Wild Animal Zoo  

北京野生动物园被指虐待动物 鳄鱼嘴被捆住合影(图)

“把孔雀用架子固定住，每根尾羽都捆住，孔雀一动不能动(左图)。胶带捆住鳄鱼的嘴，固定在台子上，同样动弹不得(右图)。合照点这样做就是为能让动物们和游客合影赚钱。这种残忍的方式，早该禁止了！”日前，有网友指北京野生动物园此举是在虐待动物。[查看全文]

(ECNS) – Beijing Wild Animal Zoo was accused of mistreating animals, as crocodiles and peacocks were tied up and posed for tourists who want to take photos with the animals, according to Beijing Morning Post.

A netizen surnamed Liu posted on Sina Weibo that the zoo had bound two peacocks' feet to a rack using cords, and charged tourists for taking photos with them. A small crocodile was placed on a table for photos, with its mouth tied up, she added. Liu also said some boys even plucked the peacocks' feathers.

Reporters went to the spot Liu mentioned, but animals were not on display. A zoo staffer said the animals for photos are picked at random and usually displayed on weekends. "It costs 20 yuan ($3.30) for a photo, and can bring in 1,000 yuan a day," he said.

Another staffer said they are just satisfying the demands of tourists and would not mistreat the animals. The crocodile's mouth was tied up for security reasons, he said.

Liu said she persuaded her child not to take photos with the animals. Many netizens condemned the zoo's practices and vowed not to take photos with the animals.