11 Siberian Tigers Die In Chinese Zoo - It Was Cheaper To Feed Them Chicken Bones, You See . . . .

[hatrack]

Can't argue with the logica of the marketplace!

Eleven Siberian tigers have starved to death over the past three months at a zoo in northeast China, after the cash-strapped animal park fed them cheap chicken bones, state media reported. Liu Xiaoqiang, the vice head of the wild animal protection office in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province, said the 11 tigers had died due to malnutrition, Xinhua news agency said.

Two hungry tigers at the same zoo in Shenyang severely mauled a zoo worker in November, in an attack officials said was due to the predators' lack of food. The man survived, but the tigers were shot during the rescue. After the incident, work safety officials asked the zoo's owners to confine the remaining tigers to their cages, which added to their health problems, the report said Thursday.

China has more than 200 zoos, according to the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens. But only large zoos in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai receive government funding and attention, state media say. "Many privately-owned zoos are under financial pressure, and most of them fail to feed the animals well," said Liu.

China said last month it had nearly 6,000 tigers in captivity, but just 50-60 left roaming in the wild, including about 20 wild Siberian tigers.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/afp/100312041727.w5nqqovb.html

[LynneSin]

1. If they can't feed them they need to send them someplace where they can be fed

I hope that someone in China inspects these zoos to ensure animals are properly treated.

[thereismore]

2. They have 6000 tigers in captivity? Holy crap. I'd like to know what condition they are in. nt

[NickB79]

6. Probably being farmed for bile or something like the Chinese do with bears.

:puke:

[phantom power]

3. 100 times as many in captivity as left in the wild.

[femrap]

4. Think about this as you

purchase yet another product from a totalitarian country that behaves in this fashion.

Makes me sick.

Eat the rich, greedy people!

[BrklynLiberal]

5. damn damn damn damn damn damn

[wtmusic]

7. You have a talent for finding the most depressing environmental news

Of course, of course, of course, it needs to be told. :(