A chubby zoo leopard has left people worried for his weight – but caretakers have assured people that he is healthy.
Akmal recently visited the wildlife park when he noticed the unusually large panther, named Apoh.
The 30-year-old was surprised by the the creature’s size and began to wonder if its round belly was “normal”.
Curious and concerned, Akmal recorded a short clip of the animal and later posted it to TikTok, where it quickly went viral, racking up over 2.3m views.
“When I first noticed the black leopard I thought I was looking at a sea lion or a bear,” he told Need To Know.
“But the condition of the enclosed habitat suggested otherwise.
“While looking at the info board I confirmed that it was indeed a black panther.
“As an animal lover I would’ve followed my instinct on rubbing its belly but I wouldn’t want to be its dinner later on.”
Apoh’s visibly plump figure has sparked a flood of reactions online.
While many users affectionately referred to him as “friendly” and compared him to a house cat, not all reactions were lighthearted.
Some viewers expressed concern about his weight and questioned whether the zoo was doing enough to ensure his wellbeing.
One person joked: “British short hair.”
Someone else said: “They say panther can attack but this look too friendly.”
Kallista commented: “Don’t lah make him lose weight. Zookeeper we love him the way he is.”
Tata joked: “Nothing to chase, because food come to me.”
One person said: “This is very sad.”
Blanc added: “It needs a more reasonable diet and a wider exercise space.”
Annur said: “Black panther diabetes.”
Another user wrote: “Black panther X black tanker.”
Bella said: “Black panther obese.”
Julian added: “Fatass cat.”
In response to the growing concern online, Zoo Negara in Selangor – where Apoh lives – also commented on the TikTok post to assure viewers that the cat is being looked after.
The park, which is also known as the National Zoo of Malaysia, said: “Thank you so much to everyone who cares!
“Don’t worry, our vet team is currently taking care of Apoh with lots of love, the best treatment and careful attention.
“The team would closely monitor Apoh to make sure that he is okay.
“We appreciate all the words of encouragement for Apoh to get back to his ideal weight.”
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