Beijing Zoo has admitted that one of their tigers has been displaying some concerning behaviour. It has been pacing in the same spot over and over again, creating speculation that the animal is becoming rather lonely.
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The tiger's enclosure is large enough for the animal to roam around and even includes a pool and swing to keep the creature entertained. But none of that seems to matter as the creature has settled upon pacing in place every day.
After noticing the behaviour the zoo decided to take the feline for some psychological counselling as well as bringing in more toys and food to add some enrichment to the tiger's environment.
A spokesperson for the zoo spoke to the media stating:
This kind of behaviours is expected after animals have stayed in a zoo for a long time. We have taken the animal to receive behaviour training. We also brought more food and toys for the tiger. It's like 'psychological counselling'.
Unfortunately, the Bengal tiger isn't the only animal at the Beijing Zoo that is displaying this kind of behaviour. Two of the zoo's pandas and one of their rhinos are also pacing in place all day.
Reviews from some years ago uncover that the zoo might have been mistreating their animals for years. One review from 2017 reads: "It looks as though the whole Zoo could do with a major make over [sic]. The polar bear was walking in a small circle in one corner of it's [sic] enclosure."
Another more recent review reads: "Mostly living in cages, very distressing to see a mother Elephant with her baby walking round in circles as their cage [is] so small with nothing in it."
Pacing is not uncommon among captive animals and a study conducted on polar bears suggests that the activity can be a reaction to animals becoming stressed or depressed and disassociating with their captive environment as a coping mechanism.
