Zoo will help chubby leopard lose weight

An increasing number of visitors to the zoo in Panzhihua, the southernmost city in Sichuan province, are heading for the den of a chubby leopard that has leapt to instant online fame.

The leopard at the Panzhihua Park Zoo has been under the spotlight since recent videos posted by visitors showed it basking leisurely in the sun, resembling the animated character Officer Clawhauser from the movie Zootopia.

Observing the leopard's plump appearance, some netizens have mistaken it for a seal.

Many have commented that it seems to be well-fed, expressing concerns about its health.

Xie Fan, a resident of the city in his mid-30s, said he has seen the leopard several times since he was a teenager.

The last time he saw it was in 2017, when its weight appeared normal, Xie said.

Zoo officials said that the leopard, which has been in the zoo since 2010, is now 16 years old, equivalent to a human in their 60s or 70s.

Due to limited space, the leopard lacks exercise, which has resulted in an overweight body, zoo staff said.

As the leopard is aging, it has gained weight. In addition, its loose skin as a result of aging has made it appear very overweight, a keeper said.

Every day, the leopard is fed beef and chicken meat, and it has regular physical examinations each year. Although it is overweight, its physical functions are normal, the keeper said.

Despite assurances from zoo staff about regular checkups and proper diets, concerns have prompted plans to help the animal shed the excess weight through adjustments in feeding, improvements in the environment and increased exercise.

Residents of Panzhihua like Xie have noted that not only the leopard but also bears, ostriches and alpacas at the zoo appear to be overweight.

In recent years, similar cases of overweight animals in zoos have been reported across China.

A netizen from Weihai, Shandong province, has posted that all the animals in the Xixiakou Shendiao Mountain Wildlife World are chubby, including crocodiles, hyenas, tigers, raccoons and lions.

Last year, a fox in Yunnan Wildlife Park that was said to have become as fat as a gas cylinder ended up trending on social media.

In 2020, two giant pandas at the Hainan Wildlife Park were pampered into chubbiness, prompting the zoo to initiate a weight loss plan.

As zoos across the country grapple with the issue of overweight animals, attention is being drawn to the importance of maintaining the health and well-being of animals in captivity.

Experts have suggested that zoos should control animals' diets, design activities to increase their exercise, conduct regular health checkups and educate visitors about the risks of overfeeding animals.