Visitors to the Panzhihua City Zoo in Sichuan province are finding amusement in its noticeably plump residents, with jokes circulating that almost no animal in the park is thin. The star attractions include a particularly round leopard and black bears so stout their necks are barely visible.
On 4/10, zoo staff confirmed that several animals are indeed overweight. They admitted previous attempts to help them lose weight were unsuccessful. A staff member remarked, "If a person gets fat even by just drinking water, it's the same for animals". Despite their size, the zoo maintains that the animals remain healthy and receive regular health checks from medical personnel.
One of the zoo's most famous residents is a leopard, affectionately nicknamed "Leopard Cop", a playful nod to the chubby officer Clawhauser from Disney's animated film Zootopia. Staff had initially planned a weight-loss program for the leopard but halted it after consulting experts. The decision was made due to the animal's advanced age; at 18 years old, it is nearing the upper limit of its species' lifespan, which is typically 12-17 years in the wild and up to 23 years in captivity.
The story has generated numerous humorous comments online. "All the ticket sales money must be used to fatten up the animals", one person quipped. Another joked that within the expansive park, the thinnest individuals are likely the staff members themselves.
During Golden Week, from 1/10 to 7/10, the enclosures housing the leopard and black bears recorded the highest number of visitors. Entrance tickets are priced at 5 yuan (0,7 USD) on weekdays and 8 yuan (1,2 USD) on holidays. However, the zoo has not yet released its total annual visitor numbers or revenue.
Anh Minh (According to Weibo, Paper)
