Still chained to the tiny bicycle he is being forced to ride, a monkey cowers by a wall, shuddering as his trainer approaches wielding a whip.

Another on stilts, is yanked about into a macabre dance, held up only by the chain wrapped around his neck, while another of the terrified creatures is tied to the horns of a goat as he flails about, desperate to be free.

These heartbreaking images were taken in Suzhou, revealing the cruel core of China's circus industry.

Zoos and circuses that feature stunts involving animals are widely popular across China.

But campaigners have warned thousands of animals are routinely beaten and abused to make shows happen.

Charity workers claim bears are whipped and beaten with sticks, elephants are prodded with metal hooks, while tigers and lions are made to endure chronic pain by being defanged and declawed.

Zoos in China have no real animal welfare regulation, and the monkeys are often forced to ride bikes, wear make-up and race against other animals.

Last year a video emerged showing a monkey being mauled by a bear after they were forced to ride bicycles around a track in front of a large crowd.

After two laps of the track, the monkeys crashed only for the bear to launch its gruesome attack as it lay stuck under the bicycle.

The video was believed to have been shot at the Shanghai Wild Animal Park, in China, which has hit the headlines in the past for its 'Wild Animal Olympics'.

In the video, the audience can be heard cheering and laughing as the animals are sent riding around the small arena.

Circus workers holding sticks push the small bikes off but after a few seconds one monkey and the bear crash.

Staff can be seen desperately trying to force the bear off as it grabs the small monkey in its mouth.

Mimi Bekhechi, associate director of animal welfare charity Peta, told the Mirror: 'Monkeys are extremely social and highly intelligent animals who suffer from debilitating loneliness and depression when they’re separated from their families.

'Chinese circuses are among the worst in the world for outright neglect and cruel training methods involving fear, deprivation and beatings.'

In 2012, zoos across China were banned by the government from putting on exotic animal performances.

But within months it was business as usual with many claiming they were never told about the ban and had no intention of stopping.

(dailymail.co.uk)