When it’s all said and done, zoos couldn’t be zoos without visitors’ money and visitors want to see animals doing fun stuff. Big cats are the most popular animals and studies (Margulis et al, 2003) have show people are so much more interested when they can see the animals doing things. And imagine how much more you’d ~know about an animal if you realised how amazing it was at what it’s naturally built to do. Plus, activities like this engage people, especially children. And then if you (who’s had an awesome day with the tigers) then hears about how tigers dying in the wild then you’re probably more likely to sit up and take notice and maybe even help the cause.

Obviously something like this would need thoroughly following up and that’s the kinda thing that requires regulating. I know Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida does a similar thing and they’re part of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums which isn’t a free pass that says they’re good but they get regulated. Not so sure if that’s the case in China.