Live animals in tiny cages are being used as part of a game of shoot the hoops at a park in China.

Punters are urged to toss plastic hoops over the cages containing a variety of animals in Guanghan city, Sichuan Province, reports Huanqiu.com, an affiliation of the People’s Daily Online. If they manage to land a hoop, they will win a cuddly toy.

Pictures of the game in Yan Han Park have sparked a heated debate online in the country, with many people pointing out that it is cruel to the animals.

Distressing: Pictures have emerged from China of a 'hoop the game' game that uses a variety of live animals

A tiny rabbit is placed in a cage that looks too small for it (left) A budgie sits alone in the cage with a rock on it

In the corner of the park, more than 20 multicoloured cages have been neatly laid out on the ground.

Inside the tiny metal cages are different animals including rabbits, ducks, tortoises and smaller birds similar to budgies.

They have been placed directly under the sun with no shade to keep them cool. On top of the cages are huge rocks to stop the animals from getting away.

Chinese media has described many of the animals as listless in the sun, completely drained of any energy.

'Hoop the loop': Punters are urged to throw plastic rings onto the cages in order to win a cuddly toy prize

Sad: A lonely tortoise sits in a cage dry in the sun at a park in central China's Guanghan city, Sichuan Province

Variety: Inside the tiny metal cages are different animals including rabbits, ducks, tortoises and budgies

A visitor spoke to a local reporter and suggested the game was so cruel that children should not be allowed to participate.

The animals were seen frightened and eager to escape as the loud clangs of plastic on metal scared them. Sadly because they are in cages there is nowhere for them to run.

From the pictures, it looks like the hoops are too small to go round the cages, so the chances of winning are likely to be slim.

However, it seems that it's animal cruelty that's deterring visitors from playing the game.

Many Chinese users have taken to Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter, to describe how the game was cruel treatment of animals.

Others however, are only concerned that the cages used are so small.

So far there has been no reports of intervention from authorities.