A Chinese aquarium keeping a forlorn-looking polar bear named Pizza said Tuesday it has "no need" for foreign interference, after activists offered to move the animal to a British zoo.
Animals Asia, a Hong Kong-based organisation, created a petition calling for the closure of the Grandview aquarium in the Chinese city of Guangzhou that attracted half a million signatures.
Photos of Pizza shared widely on social media show the bear lying listlessly on the ground in a gloomy, windowless room while visitors crowd around taking photos on their cell phones.
Activists said the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England had offered to adopt Pizza on condition that he was not replaced by another polar bear, adding the zoo would not pay for the animal due to "fear that any funds could be used to buy more animals".
But the zoo declined to comment or confirm the offer while the aquarium operator said no one had contacted him about taking the bear, adding they "have no need for foreign organisations to get involved".
"Yorkshire Wildlife Park has not contacted us," said the general manager of the aquarium, a man surnamed Fan who refused to give his full name.
"We are a legally compliant aquarium, run according to Chinese standards and protecting animal rights. In the future we will strengthen the protection of animal rights and welfare," he added.
The cost of transferring the large, living carnivore nearly 10,000 kilometres (6,200 miles) from Guangzhou to Doncaster, England "will be raised if the offer is accepted", Animals Asia said.
The activists said they are now pushing for a meeting with the aquarium in hopes of getting a response to their offer, adding they will draw up a bill if officials agree to have Pizza delivered.
The animal welfare director of Animals Asia, Dave Neale, said in a statement that the aquarium "have the chance to put their mistake right" and end the crush of negative media attention.
The group has been publicising Pizza's plight since the beginning of the year.
GMT 14:38 2018 Wednesday ,17 October
Freezing cold in Russia’s Yakutia fails to frighten off touristsGMT 13:59 2018 Thursday ,11 October
President asks nation to fully support govt’s cleanliness driveGMT 15:09 2018 Sunday ,07 October
Earthquake 5.8 magnitude rocks Haiti, tremor felt in capital cityGMT 15:40 2018 Saturday ,29 September
152 aftershocks recorded after 7.4-magnitude quake in DonggalaGMT 18:01 2018 Tuesday ,25 September
Project Re-Charge Pakistan for utilization of flood waters "PM"GMT 16:47 2018 Tuesday ,25 September
Sarwar for secure environment to business communityGMT 22:39 2018 Friday ,14 September
Hurricane Florence deluges Carolinas ahead of landfallGMT 08:53 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
8.2 magnitude quake hits off Alaska: USGSMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor