India, June 15 -- A group of zoo visitors in China has come under fire after a video of them yanking hair from a tiger went viral, drawing sharp criticism online.

According to the South China Morning Post, the incident occurred at a zoo in Liaoning province, located in northeastern China. The now widely circulated video, filmed on June 8, shows several people reaching through a metal fence to pull hair from a resting tiger's belly and tail. The tiger was lying atop a steel viewing tunnel, a designated zone where the big cats often relax.

In the footage, a woman is heard saying, "Let's pull more! Tiger hair keeps evil away and protects the home." Another tourist holds up a small bunch of tiger fur, posing for a photo, and declares, "Best...