A zoo faced a backlash after footage of an extremely obese black panther emerged online.

Footage shows the 16-year-old overweight female wildcat waddling around its enclosure, almost dragging its huge belly at the Chengdu Zoo in Sichuan, China, on March 9.

At one point, the panther appears to shy away from visitors, attempting to hide behind a tree.

The zoo management responded to the criticism, stating: 'The black panther is very old. We have two of them, including a 20-year-old male.

'We acknowledge that they are overweight, but we are doing our best to help them reduce weight.'

Outraged visitors condemned the zoo, accusing it of neglect and harming the animals' well-being.

Experts warn that obesity in wildcats can lead to severe health complications and even threaten their survival. Excess weight reduces agility, making them slower and less effective hunters. The added strain on their joints can cause mobility issues, including arthritis, further limiting their ability to move.

Obesity also puts significant stress on vital organs, increasing the risk of heart disease, liver complications, and diabetes. These conditions can drastically shorten a wildcat's lifespan.

While obesity is rare in wildcats due to their active hunting lifestyle, it can occur when they are exposed to unnatural food sources, such as human waste or excessive feeding in captivity. Without proper diet and exercise, an overweight wildcat faces both immediate health threats and long-term decline.