Shocking photos of tiny hamsters crowding together in the corner of a claw machine at the Yuekong City arcade in Shenzen, China, have sparked outrage on Chinese social media, with many user according the owners of the establishment of animal cruelty. The furry critters not only lived inside the claw machine, surrounded by bright, colourful lights and constant noise, but also had to run from the metal claw that descended from above whenever someone tried to catch them as prizes.
Experts pointed out that hamsters are extremely sensitive to noise and crowds, and the cramped machine space, combined with frequent contact with the metal claws, caused many hamsters to suffer severe stress reactions. Some visitors tried calling police to report the arcade’s abuse, but were told that Shenzen didn’t have an animal welfare law.
Soon after photos and clips of the controversial claw machine spread on social media, the Shenzen arcade replaced the hamster machine with two other machines where the prizes were live fish and small turtles. An employee told local reporters that the owners could have been accused of breaking the Chinese law concerning disease control and prevention, because they didn’t have the relevant licenses to use live hamsters in their venue.
China currently has no laws protecting small animals, farm animals and pets from abuse.
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