China's 'cruelty olympics' causes international outrage

October 1, 2006

(Originally Posted by thesmophoros )

09/29/2006

Dominican Today

Beijing.- A bear struggles to retain its balance while gripping the

two metal hoops, which look more like shackles than acrobatics

equipment, as a wildlife park worker looks on and laughs.

This is just the latest shocking picture to emerge from the Animal

Olympic Games which is being held in China, a country with a shameful

animal rights record.

Chimpanzees are forced to play basketball and apparently lift huge

weights, while a docile brown bear is dressed in a tutu while

navigating a makeshift obstacle course in one of the strangest events

ever to be staged.

The photographs are published for the first time today following

outrage at earlier images which showed kangaroos being forced to take

part in boxing matches with their supposed keepers and a monkey

cycling while tied by the collar to the children's bike.

Other events at the 'games' include a sea lion high jump and a tug of

war between an elephant and members of the audience, with more than

300 animals taking part.

The forth of the biannual events at the Shanghai Wildlife Park has

attracted thousands of visitors, including rapturous school children,

but has provoked outrage and serious concerns among animal rights

groups the world over.

And the 'cruelty Olympics' are being held just before the human

Olympics take place in Beijing. The Captive Animals' Protection

Society will be writing to the Chinese Ambassador in London to

complain about the event.

Photos:

B384-EA7FB29628FE & f=38

A63E-3AAC1DCC83BA & f=38

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