Commuters in some of China’s busiest stations are set to be challenged on their attitudes towards performing animals.

Three posters, funded by Animals Asia, are already up in Chengdu subway, with the campaign set to be rolled out across China’s major cities as well as online, including its increasingly popular social media platforms.

The posters featuring a toy bear, chimp and lion, spell out the cost to the animals of putting on performances to an audience that may otherwise be unaware of their suffering. They state: “No applause needed, only care wanted — stop abusing animals, refuse animal performance.”

Additional messages include: “For this performance animals have had their teeth removed and claws cut out. For this performance animals have been trapped and starved.”

It concludes: “It starts with you. Please say no to animal performance!”

Animals Asia’s Animal Welfare Director David Neale commented:

“Attitudes to animals in China are improving all the time, largely driven by a growing awareness of animal welfare issues as a result of activists and sizeable media coverage. Animal performances have long been popular but we’re asking people to question what happens before the show. Customers pay their money to buy a ticket but the animals pay a great deal more. We suggest that people should spend their money elsewhere instead and to avoid inadvertently funding cruelty.”

The posters will also be made available to download in China for computer desktop wallpapers and for supporters to print and display.