The Xiongsen Tiger and Bear Mountain Village in Guilin is one of the many tiger farms in China. It is publicised as being a "fun place" where you can see tigers and bears feeding on live animals and performing tricks that often involve fire. Another huge "attraction" is the facility's gift shop, which sells "bone strengthening" wine made from "rare animal bones". It's no mystery what "rare animal" they use – tigers.
Tigers, bears and other species in "attraction parks" in China are used as tourist bait when they are alive, forced to perform senseless circus acts, left in bare cement enclosures in large groups to fight for an unnatural hierarchy or trapped in tiny cages. Most of the bears are farmed for their bile. Their only hope of escape is death.
When the animals die or are killed, their bones, skin, meat, claws, paws and whiskers will sell for thousands of dollars.
The only solution is to close the farms and surrender the animals to an organisation that has the animals' best interests at heart. This will effectively stop the trade in products from endangered animals, end abuse to the animals, and stop the breeding of sick, genetically altered animals.
Join me in urging the CITES delegation from China to shut down the Xiongsen Tiger and Bear Mountain Village immediately. It would send a clear message to other similar facilities that exploiting endangered animals is not acceptable.
Dear CITES Authorities,
The trade in endangered animals kept in atrocious captive conditions should not be the first thing that comes to mind when people hear the name "China". There are so many things that are beautiful and fascinating about your country and tourism should not be made to suffer because of the stubbornness of a few outdated traditions.
I plead to you to stop the trade in endangered animals parts. The animals live horrific lives of abuse and cruelty. Shut down the Xiongsen Tiger and Bear Mountain Village and send a clear message to other similar facilities that exploit endangered animals.
Closing the farms and surrendering the animals to an organisation that has the animals' best interests at heart is the best solution. This will effectively stop the trade in products from endangered animals, end abuse to the animals, and stop the breeding of sick, genetically altered animals.
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Sincerely,
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