Chubby leopard raises concerns on overfeeding at zoos

Chonky cat: Zoo officials say due to limited space and minimal exercise, the 16-year-old leopard has gained weight. — China Daily/Asia News Network

A leopard at the Panzhihua Park Zoo in the southeastern Sichuan province of China has gained online fame.

Videos posted by visitors show the chubby leopard leisurely basking in the sun, resembling the animated character “Officer Clawhauser” from the movie Zootopia, local outlet Hongxing News reported.

Observing the leopard’s plump appearance, many netizens commented that the animals seem to be well-fed, expressing concerns about the health of the overweight animals. Some even mistook the leopard for a seal. Local residents of Panzhihua noted that not only the leopard but also bears, ostriches and alpacas at the zoo appear to be overweight.

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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 and minimal exercise, the leopard has gained weight, and its fur has become loose, giving the appearance of being overweight, according to the report.

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

In recent years, similar cases of overweight animals in zoos have been reported across China. A netizen from Weihai, Shandong province, posted that the animals in the Xixiakou Shendiao Mountain Wildlife World are all chubby, including crocodiles, hyenas, tigers, raccoons and lions.

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Last year, a fox in the Yunnan Wildlife Park were said to be as fat as a “gas cylinder” and ended up trending on social media.

In 2020, at the Hainan Wildlife Park, two giant pandas were pampered into chubby little ones, 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 the animals’ diets, design activities to increase their exercise, conduct regular health check-ups and educate visitors about the risks of overfeeding animals.