This Is What Life Is Like for a Bear in the Chinese Circus Industry

Life as a bear in the Chinese circus industry is nothing short of heartbreaking. As young cubs, they struggle to stand upright so as not to be strangled by the chains around their necks, and later, metal rings are punched through their sensitive snouts. Their lives consist of one long series of violent and intimidating interactions with their “trainers.”

For PETA Asia’s undercover investigator, a bear named Doudou left a lasting impression.

She was yanked by the rope around her neck and forced to walk on parallel bars like this:

If she stopped or made a mistake, she was hit with a stick.

This suffering may seem a world away, but bear training in the U.S. looks nearly identical to what PETA Asia uncovered in China. This bear at a now-defunct roadside zoo in Pennsylvania was forced to walk on his hind legs.

Please pledge never to buy a ticket to a circus or any other event that uses animals. Instead, support acts that focus only on spectacular human talent.