So Fat They Lost Their Lines! Sichuan Zoo Ticket Prices Skyrocket 2.5x, Staff Sigh: They Absorb Even Water

The 'chubby squad' at Panzhihua Zoo in Sichuan has recently become a hot topic online again. The leopards, black bears, peacocks, koi carp, and even crocodiles at the zoo are almost all round and plump, earning them the nickname 'National Model Pig Farm' from netizens. One leopard, nearly 20 years old, has become a star attraction for its round physique, resembling the 'Officer Clawhauser' from the movie 'Zootopia'. Nearby black bears are so fat their necks have disappeared, with the white V-shaped fur on their chests jokingly called 'Nike Bears'. In response to external doubts, zoo staff members responded helplessly, admitting they've tried various weight-loss methods with unsatisfactory results. 'It's like people, overweight people absorb even water, and they get hungry if they don't eat all day.' The staff emphasized that the zoo has veterinarians conducting regular check-ups, and although the animals are fat, their health indicators are generally normal. The main reason for their weight gain is their older age and slower metabolism. However, behind the animals' 'collective weight gain' lies the operational difficulties of this old zoo. According to an official response in 2018, ticket revenue in 2017 was just over 400,000 yuan, while expenses for animal feed and medicine exceeded 530,000 yuan, with the deficit fully covered by financial subsidies. To cope with the soaring food costs, ticket prices were raised from the original 2 yuan to 5 yuan, a 2.5-fold increase. The zoo once tried hanging meat high up for leopards to jump and eat as a weight-loss method, but due to limited space, the effect was poor. Now, they are preparing to customize 'fat-reducing meals'. This 'fatness that went viral' drama is both an unexpected surge in popularity in the era of traffic and a true reflection of a grassroots zoo under survival pressure. Such fat leopards, such chubby fish 🤣🤣