To stop animal cruelty, many countries are taking a step forward to prohibit ill-treatment of animals and enacting animal protection laws. A German circus has replaced animals with 3D holograms and the Danish government has purchased the last four circus elephants so that they can retire. However, an amusement park in China is being slammed for taking a step back and disregarding animal rights in lieu of a promotional activity.
On January 18, The Meixin Red Wine Town theme park in Chongqing, south-west China, held a “golden pig bungee jump”. According to NY Post, the staff hoisted a pig to the tower, tied a cape around its neck and then initiated a 223-foot drop to attract visitors and commemorate the upcoming Lunar New Year.
(Warning: Graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised)
Thereafter, the pig was taken to the slaughterhouse. MailOnline quoted PETA Vice President of International Campaigns Jason Baker saying,
“A bungee jump is a scary experience even for consenting humans – just imagine the outright terror of being forcibly strung up by your legs and thrown from a high platform. That’s the treatment that this pig received, all for a cheap laugh. Well, guess what? No one’s laughing. Pigs experience pain and fear, just as we do, and this kind of disgusting PR stunt should be illegal.”
When the disturbing video surfaced online, everyone was outraged.
just read about the pig that was attatched to a bungee jump rope at a Chinese amusement park and I honeslty don’t understand how fucking sick humans can be, the poor thing would have been petrified and all for what “entertainment”? If you find that amusing you’re severely fucked
— ☁️ (@robynboyd_) January 21, 2020
Is that funny to force a pig to bungee jump off or happy to watch such kind of cruel performance? Insane!!
Animals also have #AnimalRights. https://t.co/B3EtNgPsH0
— HKcitizen (@KcitizenH) January 20, 2020
https://twitter.com/Wraithaz/status/1219473018751074309
Pigs are my least favorite animals… but come on. Y’all can’t be forcing that poor pig to bungee jump to initiate your new year. That’s animal cruelty.
— Strahl Fenrir (@StrahlFenrir) January 20, 2020
A theme park in China forced a pig to bungee jump this weekend. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT.
— em🇨🇦🎧 (@EmRivers_) January 21, 2020
BBC reports that the organizers issued an apology after the backlash saying,
“We sincerely accept netizens’ criticism and advice and apologize to the public. We will improve [our] marketing of the tourist site, to provide tourists with better services.”
We hope that the theme park’s regret is sincere and that they seriously rethink their publicity stunts.