China zoo visitors slammed for ‘lucky’ tiger hair pulling, warned against provoking beast
Driven by traditional belief that tiger hair can fend off evil spirits, tourists grab clumps of big cat hair, tie to handbags
A group of tourists who pulled out the hair of a tiger at a zoo in China, thinking it would ward off evil spirits, have sparked outrage online.
On June 8, a viral video showed several visitors at a zoo in Liaoning province, northeastern China, pulling hair from the big cat’s belly and tail through a metal fence.
The incident took place in a special zone where tigers often rest on top of a steel viewing tunnel.
In the video, one of the tourists, a woman, is heard saying: “Let’s pull more! Tiger hair keeps evil away and protects the home.”
A couple of fellow visitors each grab small tufts of hair, and some tie them to their handbags.