Page 30 - Animals Asia Review 2017

Captive Animal Welfare

The ‘world’s saddest polar bear’

Pizza, “the world’s saddest polar bear”, was moved from
a Chinese shopping mall to an ocean park thanks to a
public outcry – but she’s no better off.

Animals Asia met with the Guangzhou mall’s bosses twice,
advising them on Pizza’s stress and also raising concerns
about her living conditions in the indoor aquarium – bright

lights, lack of privacy, and constant crowds of shoppers and
noisy children.

But the move has not improved Pizza’s welfare as
conditions at the ocean park are similar to those in the
shopping mall. Polar bears belong in the wild, not trapped

in ocean parks on display to the public.

Far too many wild animals in China and Vietnam have stories
like Pizza’s, or even worse. Kept in barren concrete cells, sick

from malnutrition and neglect, and literally losing their minds
from stress and frustration.

But because of your support, hundreds of animals are now
seeing real and lasting change in their everyday lives.

In 2016 your support helped to
convince the Beijing Agriculture

B2ureau to end

sea lion performances.

17,000

people signed our
petition against a new dolphinarium in
Danang, a popular tourist spot in Vietnam.

Volunteers at six Chinese universities held

World Ocean Day events opposing the captivity
of whales and dolphins in ocean parks. Over
4,000

students attended.

Our exposure of the plight of Pizza the polar bear trapped
in a Chinese shopping mall saw more than
680

news outlets running the story, reaching over 1.7 billion

people globally.

30 Animals Asia Review 2016