A pair of giant tortoises that Mauritius gifted to the city of Xiamen in 2011 are being treated atrociously in a local zoo, local netizens have reported.
Photographs from the park - which has been described as a "concentration camp for animals" - show visitors riding the tortoises around while an attendant skulks alongside with what appears to be a screwdriver blade, ready to prod the animal should it choose not to cart around the grinning imbeciles on its back.
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Even a full grown man was captured accompanying a child atop the struggling tortoise. In one soul-crushing snap, one of the tortoises even appears to be shedding tears as it makes its way around.
Ms. Xue, spokesperson for the Haicang Zoo said that regulations forbid tourists from mounting animals but "sometimes they just can't help themselves." According to Ms. Xue, staff "Will step forward to stop [them]" if they remain on the animal "for too long."
In her warped mind, one presumes, this is a legitimate excuse and acceptable practice for a zoo.
With life spans of upwards to four centuries, the treatment of the tortoises is especially cruel when you consider the hundreds of years they may have to endure it.
As if the tortoise cruelty wasn't bad enough, however, it was later revealed that the rare reptiles are in fact "national treasures," given to china four years ago as a diplomatic gift from the island nation of Mauritius.
Note to rest of the world: do not give any living thing to dodgy Chinese zoos.
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[Images via Oriental Daily]
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