China zoo sets up monument to honour donkey fed alive to tigers

"A Donkey's Monument" was set up in Yancheng Safari Park to honour the animal, which was mauled to death by tigers after being thrown inside a moat.

CHANGZHOU: The zoo in eastern China where a donkey was fed alive to tigers by disgruntled investors has chosen to remember its fallen hero – by erecting a statue in its honour.

Called "A Donkey's Monument", the tribute is located at a corner of the Yancheng Safari Park in Jiangsu province, local media reported.

An inscription in English and Mandarin describe the donkey's life leading up to its tragic end as food for tigers.

Early last month, news of how a group of investors – angry at not receiving returns on their investments after a dispute with the zoo – pushed the donkey into a moat in the zoo's tiger enclosure, drew widespread outrage.

They had attempted to transport several animals out of the zoo to sell them, but were stopped. In anger, they decided to feed the animals to the tigers.

Horrified visitors watched on as the donkey was mauled and bitten in the water by two tigers.

It died half an hour later.

The investors had wanted to throw a goat as well, but were stopped by visitors and security staff. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network