Hidden Camera Investigations Expose Maltreatment Of Tiger Cubs In Roadside Zoo Facilities

A white Bengal tiger cub is pictured at the White Zoo in Kernhof May 26, 2014. It is one of five cubs which were born on Sunday at the private zoo in Lower Austria, two years after their mother gave birth to four cubs in 2012. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader

The Humane Society of the United States published a video titled "What Baby Tigers are Forced to do Might Shock You!" on their YouTube channel. Published on Jan. 22, 2015, the video tackles the topic of animal abuse as it exposes the maltreatment of tiger cubs on roadside zoo facilities. It shows how the tiger cubs are disciplined by using physical abuse and how the facilities make money by separating the cubs from the mother at birth for the paying public to take pictures with.

The video starts by showing footage of a white tiger cub being forcefully dragged across a footpath as it resists. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to look at this picture and know that this tiger cub doesn't belong here," says the narrator. "And that he's somewhat resistant."

The video then continues to show footage taken using hidden cameras by HSUS investigators who went undercover at two different roadside zoo facilities.

It shows the caretakers hitting, slapping and punching the tiger cubs as they utter expletives. One caretaker even chokes a tiger using his version of a "sleeper hold," a popular pro-wrestling move, and another who ignores a veterinarian's advice regarding a certain cub. The narrator then discusses the tiger cub trade in detail for the duration of the video.

The HSUS is an American animal protection organisation that is devoted to advocating animal rights and fighting animal cruelty of all kinds. Watch this video here (content warning: strong language).