Chinese zoo feeds tiny puppy to a hungry python live

Horrified zoo-goers in China claimed they had witnessed workers feeding a puppy to a python live.

Footage and pictures taken by eye-witnesses have emerged on social media, showing the alleged event at the state-run Hebin Park in central China’s Pingdingshan city.

Keepers have reportedly stopped giving snakes live puppies, according to the zoo, after the news caused an outcry among the Chinese public.

Picture on Chinese social media, taken by an eye-witness, shows a puppy being place next to a golden python (left). The hungry snake then appears to swallow the pooch whole (right)

A spokesperson of the Hebin Park admitted to the allegations, according to Pear Video. 

The spokesperson was quoted saying: ‘The (keepers) did feed puppies to snakes. My bosses have spoken with them, and stopped them carrying on doing so.’ 

The spokesperson explained that the snakes enclosure was managed by a third party and was privately run. She said the zoo had been unaware of the situation.

News broke when shocked visitors who witnessed the scenes took pictures and videos, before posting them onto Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter on January 20. 

The Hebin Park in Pingdingshan city has admitted to the allegations and stopped doing so

The post caught the attention of PETA Asia, an animal welfare organisation, on February 1. 

‘This is yet another example of the importance of an animal protection law and why China needs to implement one,’ PETA Asia urged.   

The organisation said at the moment China only has law for protecting wild animals, but no law for protecting livestock or small animals, such as dogs and cats.