Two Chinese tourists visiting Japan have come under criticism after images circulated online showing them handling swans by hand at Lake Yamanaka. The photographs, which went viral on social media, depict one woman cradling a swan while another appears to lift a second bird by the neck for a photo opportunity.

The images sparked widespread condemnation from internet users, who emphasized that wild swans in Japan are legally protected. Some commentators questioned whether the actions constituted animal abuse and called on Japanese authorities to penalize the tourists and consider revoking their visas.

The original account that posted the photos subsequently deleted them and deactivated the user profile. Soon after, an individual believed to be one of the women depicted issued a statement claiming the images were artificially generated with AI technology and insisted that no birds had been harmed.

This incident adds to a growing number of cases involving tourists from China mishandling wildlife while visiting Japan. Previous reports have highlighted concerns about visitors feeding wild deer in Nara improper items, such as garbage, which poses risks to animal health.

In a separate and unusual incident reported from Liaoning province in China, a survival training instructor under the influence of hallucinogenic mushrooms mistakenly identified his pet dog as a former girlfriend. The instructor, identified as Zhang, was observed by his roommate embracing and kissing the dog repeatedly for seven hours before being rushed to a hospital. Zhang later recounted experiencing vivid memories triggered by the hallucination and expressed remorse for his actions toward the animal after receiving treatment.

These events have raised questions about the appropriate conduct of tourists in foreign countries and the potential consequences of irresponsible interactions with wildlife. Authorities in Japan have yet to confirm any official investigation into the Lake Yamanaka episode.