Chinese Zoo Locks Visitors in Cages, Lets Animals Roam Free

The Lehe Ledu Wildlife Zoo in Chongqing city, China, is giving people a chance to experience what it feels like to come face to face predators, instead of just viewing them in cages from a safe distance. Here visitors are locked up in a cage inside the back of a truck as it makes its way through the park, while the animals freely roam around, often coming close to the cage. To draw attention of the beasts, huge chunks of raw meat are tied to the bars to lure them as close as possible. The tours which were launched last month have already become a big hit among the tourists, with tickets sold out for the next three months.

“We wanted to give our visitors the thrill of being stalked and attacked by the big cats but with, of course, none of the risks,” said zoo spokeswoman Chan Liang. “The guests are warned to keep their fingers and hands inside the cage at all times because a hungry tiger wouldn’t know the difference between them and breakfast.”

via NYPost and Oddity Central