Chinese tigers being farmed in horrific conditions to make aphrodisiac wine

Captive tigers in China are being kept in appalling conditions in order to produce the aphrodisiac known as "tiger wine" for Chinese men, according to animal rights activists.

It's technically illegal in the country to breed the big cats in captivity, however, an exception allows tiger farms to do so if they are professedly in place to deter poaching, reports RT.

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Animal rights activists say it's all just smoke and mirrors—that the farms are intentionally starving the tigers to death for profit.

Once the emaciated and often sick cats have died, their skins are saved and their bones are added to vats of tiger wine for up to eight years.

It's believed at least 6,000 captive tigers are currently being farmed in China.

Worse yet, tiger farms also increase demand for these animals in the wild, leading to a decline in their populations.

Multiple petitions are circulating that call on the Chinese government to ban the trade in tiger parts.

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