Tourists Caught Ripping Feathers Off Peacocks at Badaling Wildlife Park

The Beijing Badaling Wildlife Park is making headlines yet again. But this time around the news doesn’t involve a tiger attack… or a bear attack. Nope, this time it was humans who were on the prowl.

Two tourists reportedly chased peacocks and pulled out their tail feathers at the now-infamous wildlife park on Monday, South China Morning Post reports. According to a witness who posted photos of the incident online, one man was seen running after the peacocks while another man was seen holding one of the birds. 

The photos quickly went viral after they were posted to social media. According to the witness, the wives and children of the two men watched the shenanigans and took videos.

At the Badaling Wildlife Park’s peacock garden, visitors are allowed to feed, photograph and touch the animals. However, park rules specifically state that guests are not allowed to harm them. 

“This kind of behaviour is utterly uncivilised,” wrote the witness who posted the photographs online. “They were so brutal.”

Along with several other families, the witness claims to have attempted to stop the family from harming the peacocks. However, their efforts were fruitless. The family finally stopped their assault once the birds became frightened and ran away. 

Although the viral photos don't show any particularly scandalous behavior, the park has confirmed that the tourists did pluck feathers from the birds. According to the park, the attack took place in an area not surveilled by cameras, which is why park officials did not intervene. 

Just last year two peacocks died at a zoo in Yunnan after tourists picked them up to take selfies and pulled out their feathers. In a statement by the zoo, the peacocks’ deaths were due to the guests’ “violent behavior.”

As for Badaling Wildlife Park, this latest incident is just another in a year full of bad press. Last year, a tiger attack left one woman dead and another severely injured after the two exited their vehicle in one of the park’s safari-style exhibits. 

And in February, the park drew more criticism over safety concerns when a vehicle was surrounded by bears, one of which attempted to claw its way inside the car through an open window. 

We don’t know about you, but we’re not going to Badaling Wildlife Park anytime soon.

[Image via South China Morning Post]