On June 8, a video went viral on social media showing tourists visiting a zoo in Liaoning Province in northeastern China, recklessly approaching a tiger cage to pluck fur from the animal's belly and tail through a metal fence.
The incident happened in a special area called the iron cage, where the zoo's tigers usually rest. This iron cage is located above the tourist walkway.
Tiger becomes victim of superstition as visitors race to pluck its fur for good luck (Source: Xin Wen).
The video shows a tiger lying quietly in an iron cage while several people stand below and pluck the fur from its belly. Surprisingly, the tiger whose fur was plucked does not react violently.
In another video, a tourist attempts to pull the fur from the tail, but is told to pluck it from another area that is easier to access. Those who successfully retrieve the fur are able to hide it in their bags.
A male guest then posed for a photo with the animal, proudly holding up a clump of tiger fur and sharing "a great souvenir that costs nothing".
In traditional Chinese culture, the tiger is considered the king of all beasts and symbolizes courage and strength. In ancient times, the tiger was also associated with generals, the god of war and national power.
Some people believe that wearing tiger fur or placing tiger fur in front of the house can ward off evil spirits, bring good luck and protect passersby.
However, the actions of the group of tourists at the zoo were strongly condemned.
When the incident caused outrage among many people, a representative of the zoo recently officially spoke out. According to the representative, although the zoo has regulations prohibiting visitors from directly contacting animals, there are still cases of violations. The situation of visitors plucking tiger hair is no longer rare. If the zoo staff discovers it, they will stop and warn them.
Previously, zoos in some localities in China were also accused of selling tiger fur and tiger urine to visitors, causing controversy in public opinion.
In February this year, Nanyang Wildlife Park ( Henan Province) was discovered hanging an advertisement near the tiger cage, advertising tiger fur for sale at 30 yuan (over 100,000 VND) a piece. The seller claimed that the fur was taken entirely from tigers and did not harm the animal.
However, when the public reacted, the zoo representative said that this was the personal behavior of a seasonal employee. The billboard was then removed and the offender was fired.
Similarly, in January, the Bifengxia Wildlife Park (Sichuan Province) was also accused of selling tiger urine for 50 yuan per bottle (180,000 VND). The product label stated that it was used to treat arthritis, injuries caused by falls, and for external use. After facing strong opposition, the product was discontinued.
Folklore experts say that tiger worship culture has traditional religious elements. This custom shows the profound influence of tiger culture in folk life.
However, modern science shows that tiger fur is just keratin like normal animal fur. Folk experts emphasize that the value of traditional beliefs lies in their cultural significance, not their practical effectiveness.
On the contrary, the act of plucking tiger fur causes harm to animals and goes against science. Many experts call on the public to look at folklore rationally.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/tham-hoa-so-thu-ho-thanh-nan-nhan-me-tin-khach-dua-nhau-nho-long-lay-loc-20250617160914372.htm
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