A dark pall over the zoo

A public undertaking such as a zoo should never set the pursuit of profit as its top priority. The miserable fate of the tigers and other animals in Shenyang Wildlife Zoo was inevitable from the beginning when making money was the sole purpose of its restructuring from a State-owned zoo into a private one a decade ago.

The death of 11 tigers in three months was the culmination of the crisis, which would have taken place sooner or later. Preliminary investigation reveals dirty deals behind the restructuring 11 years ago: The corrupt mayor Mu Suixin (who died in 2002) at the time received bribes to support the taking over of the zoo by a private entrepreneur.

Income from the zoo was eventually diverted by the entrepreneur to repay his debts. As a result, there hasn't been enough money to keep the wild animals in good health and even pay for the zoo's workers.