Shocking footage shows poor sedated tiger fawned over by public

Heartbreaking footage from a Chinese circus shows tourists posing with a rare tiger while it lies sedated.
The cruel scenes, which members of the public have equated to 'animal abuse', took place inside the tent of the circus in Lindian City, in north eastern China's Heilongjiang Province.
According to visitors at the circus, the endangered Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) was first paraded around the ring by its handler and even made to tow a performer behind it.
At the end of the act, after it had been made to stand on its hind legs and jump through hoops, tourists were invited inside the cage to pet the big cat.
Paying visitors were charged 20 RMB (2 GBP) for a chance to touch the animal and pose for a photo. All the while the tiger lies subdued and largely unrestrained on a table.
It is unclear what substance the tiger was given, but witnesses pointed out that it clearly looked weak and drugged up.
People on Chinese social media have criticised the circus and called the scenes 'animal abuse', while others said the stunt was an accident waiting to happen because untrained tourists - including children - were allowed so close to the predator.
The circus told complaining audience members that the cat was 'not dangerous at all' because it had been 'well trained'.
There has so far been no word of police involvement.