Outcry over tiger ‘kept on 3ft chain and left to walk in small circles for 22 hours a day’ at Thai zoo where tourists pay to pose with it
- Tiger has been seen chained to platform as tourist photo opportunity in Thailand
- Campaigners claim it is tied up ‘for up to 22 hours a day’ at a zoo in Phuket
- Wildlife charity has launched bid for it to be moved to an enclosure permanently
A desperate appeal has been launched to save a tiger allegedly kept on a 3ft chain for up to 22 hours a day at a Thai zoo where tourists pay to pose with the animal.
Animal lovers around the world have been urged to sign a petition to free the creature at Phuket Zoo in Thailand.
Distressing footage shows the tiger pacing awkwardly around a small circle platform, unable to stand up properly.
The tiger is allegedly being chained on the platform for up to 22 hours a day so that tourists can take a photo sitting next to it for £7.50 a shot
Campaigners claim the tiger is chained on the platform for all but two hours of the day so that tourists can take a photo sitting next to it for £7.50 a shot.
In the footage, it appears that a short chain restricts the animal to walking in repetitive tiny circles.
American charity Care2 has launched the campaign to get the animal unshackled and instead kept in a large enclosure at the same zoo.
Animal lovers around the world have been urged to sign a petition to free the creature from its chains at Phuket Zoo in Thailand
A spokesman for the charity said: ‘That’s the life for this tiger at Phuket Zoo – please sign the petition to have her moved to a protected reserve.’
American biologist Daniel Schneider shared the video saying: ‘Imagine being chained 22 hrs/day by a 3 ft chain. Walking in endless repetitive tiny circles. Over and over again.
‘That’s the life for this tiger at Phuket Zoo, Thailand.’
Wildlife charity Care2’s petition has since attracted 10,000 supporters.