NEWS

M'sians Express Concern Over Viral ‘Chonky’ Black Panther, Zoo Negara Assures the Animal Is Well Cared For

Aira Jailani 15/07/2025 | 06:41 MYT
Recently, a TikTok video caught the attention of many Malaysians, particularly because of a rather plump black panther at Zoo Negara.

The short 15-second clip, posted by user @oldmonkeyalkaff, showed the large cat lounging in its enclosure. The animal was also seen rolling in the grass as it basked in the sun.

Image Credit: @oldmonkeyalkaff | TikTok

As of this writing, the video has garnered over two million views. While many netizens found the black panther adorable due to its unusually large size, others voiced concern over the animal’s apparent obesity.

Image Credit: @oldmonkeyalkaff | TikTok

“If the caption didn’t state it was a black panther, I would have thought it was a bear.”

Image Credit: @oldmonkeyalkaff | TikTok

“Does the enclosure beside the black panther’s belong to the hippos? I’m afraid it might be influenced by the size of the hippos," commented another user.

Image Credit: @oldmonkeyalkaff | TikTok

Following the viral video, Zoo Negara responded in the comment section regarding the issue:

“Thank you so much to everyone for the concern. Don’t worry, our team of vets is taking care of Apoh with love. We’re giving Apoh the best care and are observing him closely. We appreciate the encouraging words to help Apoh reach his ideal weight.”

Image Credit: @oldmonkeyalkaff | TikTok

You can watch the viral video here:

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Featured Image Credit: @oldmonkeyalkaff | TikTok