Two tigers in China (illustration). – Shi Shuai / Costfoto / Sipa USA / SI
The story will give arguments to the opponents of animal parks and the fact of wanting to keep wild animals in captivity. Two tigers were indeed killed in a park in central China. The reason ? The felines killed a zookeeper while he was feeding them.
“A guard was injured Tuesday morning by a bite while feeding two tigers that escaped from their iron cage. The warden was rushed to the hospital where he died despite the treatment, ”read a statement from the Xichuan County Forestry Bureau in central Henan province. A hunt was then launched in an attempt to capture the two tigers, which were eventually slaughtered within the grounds of the park called Danjiang Peacock Valley. The two felines were rented to the zoo by a circus in Suzhou City. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact conditions of the accident.
Precedents in China
Escapes of wild animals are not uncommon in China. Earlier this month, three leopards were found roaming free in the city of Hanghzou, southwest of Shanghai. Two felines were quickly captured but a third was spotted roaming the city, causing local panic. The leopard has still not been found.
Animal parks in China are frequently criticized for the living conditions of animals but also for fatal incidents attributed to lax safety rules. Some people remember the death in 2016 of a woman in a Beijing zoo, where visitors can admire wild animals while traveling in their vehicle. Following an argument, her daughter got out of the car and was attacked by a tiger, which inflicted serious injuries on her. The mother had come down in turn to rescue her, before being killed by a second feline.