Cruel and distressing’ animal conditions exposed at China’s oldest zoo

Gergana Krasteva and Alice Murphy 

Footage shows the distressing scenes inside Beijing Zoo (Picture: Edina Delic)

African elephants confined to ‘tiny prison cells’ without access to water. Polar bears locked indoors with nothing but a ‘dirty’ pool. Dogs stuffed into cramped cages.

These are some of the distressing scenes confronting tourists at Beijing Zoo, where concerns are mounting over the treatment and welfare of the animals.Edina Delic, from Dublin, spoke with Metro about the conditions in China’s oldest public zoo in the Xicheng District, that left her in floods of tears.

The 29-year-old was on holiday in the Chinese capital when she visited the park — an area of 80 hectares, also known as a centre for zoological research that breeds rare animals from across the world.

Dr Peter Li, a policy expert, said it is ‘not unheard of’ for some zoos in China to dye the fur of dogs to look like other animals.

‘This doesn’t align with the ethical treatment of dogs or any animal but alas many zoos across China have woefully inadequate standards in terms of animal welfare and wellbeing,’ he told Metro.

Chow Chow dogs painted as panda's

There have been recent examples of Chow Chows being dyed black and white to look like pandas, and orange and black to look like tigers.Dr Li explained that zoos in China do not operate under internationally-recognised standards.

While some Western practices have been implemented, the conditions in a typical zoo in China fall short, he said.Dr Li added: ‘Chinese zoos are a huge business empire where animals are commodities for profit.

‘Many zoos are rogue facilities with no educational or welfare element at all, and some even subject animals to cruel and demeaning circus-like acts.

‘Instead of being truly educational facilities, they do the opposite because the animals can be so depressed and inactive in their barren and small environments, that the paying public see nothing of the true nature of wild animals as they would behave in the wild where they belong.’ 

Metro contacted the China Zoo Association (CZA) for comment but has received no response.

Dear Readers I am in touch with Zoo Check and Wildlife Welfare. I will keep you informed about a change in the situation in zoos in China. Tomorrow I wil send a request to Animals Asia what is being doen for the animals in horrible zoos.?

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