China game shop slammed for using live hamsters in claw machine, now utilising fish, turtles

A game centre in China has come under fire after it used real hamsters as prizes in its claw machines to attract customers.The venue, in a shopping centre in Shenzhen in southern China’s Guangdong province, was reported to have filled a machine with hamsters, instead of the normal plush toys.Its actions triggered an online backlash, with many people accusing the outlet of animal abuse.Images captured from surveillance footage clearly show the hamsters, centre, cowering in the corner of the claw machine. Photo: www.nfnews.comAccording to online footage, the hamsters cowered in the corner of the machine.Clips also reportedly showed the animals suffering obvious signs of stress caused by the noisy environment of the game centre and the occasional hits from the metal claw.It was also revealed that when the shop closed during the Spring Festival holiday in February, no one was left in charge of feeding the hamsters.Some people tried to contact the citizen service hotline, but only received replies that they cannot deal with the matter because “Shenzhen does not have an animal protection law”, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported.Two colourful claw machines sit side by side in the Shenzhen shopping centre. Photo: www.nfnews.com