A number of circus animals are living in poor conditions and being scarcely fed in Qingyuan, Guangdong province, after being stranded there due to the postponement of their show, according to a Tencent News story, which cites a Guangdong TV report from February 27.
The circus was scheduled to perform in Qingyuan over the Chinese New Year holiday, but was delayed by the Qingchen Culture and Sport Bureau of Qingyuan City for lack of proper certification, as was explained in an official notice by the above-mentioned Qingyuan authority.
The animals were reportedly rented from Suzhou city in Anhui province by a company that runs the circus. Prior to landing in Qingyuan, things went smoothly during their tour throughout Xi’an and Yinchuan, as well as Yangjiang and Jiangmen in Guangdong.
The manager of the circus told Guangdong TV that they were scheduled to perform in Qingyuan on January 14, and that staff, equipment and performing animals had been in place since January 10.
“Indeed, we aren’t able to feed them. The lions are almost starving to death,” confessed a representative of the circus. It is still unclear why Qingyuan authorities have not yet approved the show.
Since the company signed a multiple-party contract, the circus hasn't given up on performing; they're continuing the effort to get the necessary credentials and continue their tour, the report says.
On February 27, a reporter from Guangdong TV went to Feilai Lake in Qingyuan, where the animals are being kept in cages. According to the reporter, the animals seemed to be in okay spirits, although they are on the thin side.
Staff with the circus told the reporter that after paying out wages and other expenses for the unexpected additional month on tour, the company can only afford to feed the animals chicken carcasses and 'snacks,' which is significantly less than their typical diet requires.
[Images via Tencent News]
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