[Keith]

Chinese zoo stops allowing visitors to shoot animals

A Chinese zoo has agreed to suspend its policy of allowing visitors to shoot some of its animals.

The zoo, in Dandong, rented out rifles and allowed people into special areas where they could shoot the animals.

It was seen as a unique attraction to bring in more visitors but led to numerous complaints from animal lovers.

Zoo staff defended themselves, saying visitors were only allowed to kill unprotected species.

But they have now agreed to stop letting visitors shoot animals altogether, reports the South China Morning Post, quoting Liaoshen Evening News.


Story filed: 10:05 Friday 13th June 2003

[4v50 Gary]

Forgot what city I visited, but the zoo animals were starved and the Chinese obviously were not feeding them enough. You could see the ribcage on many of them. All the animals would approach and look for handouts. I threw peanuts at the bear and he was lazy enough to rest on his back and try to catch them with an open mouth.

[H&Hhunter]

In all seriousness there are some great hunting bargans in the PRC. A ten day blue sheep or moon sheep (?) hunt starts at just under $2000.00.

[4v50 Gary]

H&H, do the Chinese allow you to bring a gun into their Workers' Paradise or do they rent one to you (make mine belt fed)?

[Dr.Rob]

Catch and release wildlife darting is now the rage in some areas of Africa.

How much to dart the zookeepers for keeping the animals underfed?

[H&Hhunter]

4v50.

Easier to get an import permit in the PRC than many other countries. Like California.

[Newt]

Bring your SARS mask. ;)

[H&Hhunter]

Guys I spend a lot more time in the PRC than I'd like to. In the last three years I've spent an averageof 5 days a month in Bejing. Here's a few things that might be of interest to you.

The whole SARS thing is a complete and total example of media hype causing hysteria. Not one airline personal has contracted SARS from any airline in any of the affected countries. Even if they did they probably wouldn't know about it. If your healthy it's just a frickin flu. In fact it's mortality rate is less than some other strands of the common flu!

China especially Northern China is a spectacular beatifull country. The high desert country in the east from around Harbin all the way to Bejing looks alot like New Mexico or Arizona only with bigger mountains. I'd love to sheep hunt over there.

It's really a shame that they are hanging on to there hard core communist values. There is one thing that always amazes me in China. For being one of the last communist strong holds in the world they sure have that capitalist thing figured out. Every Chinaman in the country is running a bussiness it seems, and they all love to hagal. "You no lose money you buy from me" Seems to be the national Chinese slogan.

Maybe it's just that being a 6'3" gringo marks me as a selling target.