Pig Diving Show in China Sparks Global Outrage Over Animal Cruelty

A pig diving show held at a zoo in China has sparked public outrage and accusations of animal cruelty.

According to Chinese media outlets on Monday, a piglet diving performance was conducted on May 1 at a zoo in Dongguan, Guangdong Province.

In video footage from the scene, several piglets are seen tumbling out of the mouth of a pig-shaped structure set above a swimming pool. The piglets fall directly into the water, having been released all at once.

As the footage spread rapidly across social media, widespread criticism emerged condemning the act as blatant animal abuse. In response, the zoo said, “This show was a temporary performance held only during the Labor Day holiday period and has since been discontinued.”

The zoo further explained that the show was inspired by similar attractions at other tourist sites and claimed that it aimed to prevent piglets born at the zoo from gaining excessive weight by encouraging exercise.

They also emphasized that the show only lasted about 10 minutes per day and argued that it did not cause stress to the animals. “Some may call it animal abuse, but we see it as a measure to manage the animals’ health,” the zoo added.

Despite these explanations, animal rights groups and many online users continue to assert that the show seriously violates animal welfare.

Critics point out that pigs are not naturally inclined to swim and that forcing them to dive from heights into water can induce extreme stress and fear.

Meanwhile, concerns about animal cruelty in Chinese zoos and aquariums have persisted for years.

Since the early 2010s, the Chinese government has introduced measures to regulate the mistreatment of animals in zoos. However, many small-scale zoos and tourist attractions in rural areas still operate animal-based entertainment programs.

International animal welfare organizations call on the Chinese government to enact stronger animal protection laws and enforce them more rigorously. There is a growing demand for tighter oversight of facilities that use animals in performances to attract tourists.