'Can't diet', zoo gives up weight loss plan for overweight leopard compared to Officer Clawhauser
Authorities at a Chinese zoo have announced that they have halted the weight-loss plan for one of their most famous inhabitants. Officials at the Panzhihua Zoo in Sichuan, China, stated that their overweight leopard, which has been compared to the famous Disney character Officer Clawhauser from the movie Zootopia, can't be put on a diet because it is too old.
Videos of overweight leopard spark debate
Earlier this year, videos of the 16-year-old overweight leopard went viral on social media. While the viral video showing the chubby leopard basking leisurely in the sun attracted many more visitors, it also raised concerns about the big cat's health and well-being.
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Diet plan for overweight leopard? ?
In response, the Panzhihua Zoo decided in March to put the overweight leopard on a diet plan. Zoo officials explained that due to limited space, the leopard lacks exercise, which has resulted in its overweight condition. One of the strategies to reduce the leopard's weight involved cutting down on the amount of meat it was given and reducing the frequency of its feedings.
Too old
However, two months later, zoo officials stated that since the leopard was already 16 years old, which is equivalent to 70-80 years in human age, it could not be put on a diet. They also noted that the diet plan had failed to show any significant reduction in the leopard's weight over the two-month period.
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As long as it is healthy??
According to zoo representative Liu Maojun, they consulted many experts on how to help the leopard lose weight. The conclusion was that the leopard is too old to be bothered with weight loss and should just enjoy its old age.
"This leopard is 16 to 17 years old, equivalent to a human in their seventies or eighties. It eats three and a half pounds of high-quality beef every day, sometimes switching to rabbit and chicken meat. We consulted many experts, and this is the standard diet. In addition, the zoo will regularly review the leopard's health. As long as it is healthy and happy, that's all that matters. We won't push it," Liu said.
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