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White Bengal Tiger Captured Pacing In Same Spot Inside Enclosure

White Bengal Tiger Captured Pacing In Same Spot Inside Enclosure

The animal has been taken for 'psychological counselling' after exhibiting the strange behaviour.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

The plight of a lonely, white Bengal tiger has been unearthed after photos of its enclosure was released to the public.

Beijing Zoo's enclosure for the majestic animal is large enough for it to roam around and even features a splash pool and a swing set to keep it entertained.

However, images have shown a section of the enclosure which has been walked over so much that it's left an imprint in the ground.

Footage confirms the spot is where the tiger continually paces every day.

The Beijing Zoo says the tiger has been taken for psychological counselling after noticing the strange behaviour at the end of the month.

AsiaWire

Zookeepers gave the animal more things to play with to improve its mood.

A staff member told local media: "This kind of behaviours is expected after animals have stayed in a zoo for a long time.

'We have taken the animal to receive behaviour training. We also brought more food and toys for the tiger. It's like 'psychological counselling'."

The zoo's two resident pandas and a rhino have also been reportedly exhibiting similar behaviour by pacing around in the same spot.

AsiaWire

Reviews of the zoo are pretty dire and one from several years ago suggests that other animals were mentally suffering.

The review from 2017 said: "It looks as though the whole Zoo could do with a major make over [sic]. The polar bear was walking in a small circle in one corner of it's [sic] enclosure."

One recent entry added: "Mostly living in cages, very distressing to see a mother Elephant with her baby walking round in circles as their cage [is] so small with nothing in it."

Another instance of strange behaviour at an animal park came from a safari park in the country's east.

Yunnan Safari Park allowed visitors to take part in what it called an 'interactive programme', which included feeding tigers.

The safari park claimed the programme was educational, but was slated online after clips were shared on Chinese social media site Weibo. It has now announced it will be cancelling the activity.

On its site, Yunnan Safari Park claimed the activity was an 'interactive programme to educate visitors about nature and wildlife' and cost 30 yuan (£3.43) a pop.

In the clip, visitors to the zoo - including children - could be seen on a balcony above the tiger enclosure dangling raw meat from fishing poles to try and tempt the big cats.

Angry animal-lovers were quick to react after seeing the clip, with one person asking: "What is your problem? Don't animals deserve respect?"

Featured Image Credit: AsiaWire

Topics: News, Animals