Padan Weiwei was found to have white patches on his nose. (Photo/Huaxi Metropolis Daily)
(ECNS) -- The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) has demanded that a zoo in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, improve care for its star animal, giant panda Weiwei, after concerns were raised over his health.
In April, Weiwei was found to have white patches on his nose, possibly caused by a noisy environment (vendors peddle their goods near his enclosure). Some visitors also said the panda typically behaved abnormally and walked stiffly from 2 to 4 in the afternoon.
In response, the State Forestry Administration said on its official social media Weibo account that Weiwei started to have white spots on his nose in 2012 which became bigger later, perhaps because it was sick.
Following the online attention, the CCRCGP has demanded that the zoo enhance the internal environment of the panda's enclosure, increase the number of keepers, and regulate business activities nearby.
A manager at the zoo said the enclosure was built more than 10 years ago and needed a lot of money as well as approvals to be renovated.
Physical checks showed that nothing is wrong with Weiwei's health and the zoo has assigned someone to keep a close eye on the bear, according to the manager.
Weiwei came to the zoo in 2008 after the Wenchuan earthquake damaged his old home. Pictures of him sticking his tongue out to catch snowflakes and dancing in 2015 made him known across the world.
