Bandung Zoo Accused Of Starving Sun Bears: In Indonesia, Skeletal Animals Beg For Food At 'Horrific' Attraction

A video of starving sun bears begging for food in dirty enclosures without grass in an Indonesian zoo is causing indignation and outrage across the globe. The Scorpion Wildlife Training Monitoring Group, an organization that advocates for animal welfare, posted the video last week, although it gained wide international attention in the past couple of days. The group has been posting videos of animal mistreatment in zoos since early 2016.

An online petition to shut down the Bandung Zoo -- nicknamed one of Indonesia’s “death zoo” because of its dismal conditions -- has over 300,000 signatures, up about 60,000 signatures since Wednesday evening.

"Sun bears are very active animals. If they are stuck in a concrete pit with nothing to do, no stimulation for climbing and digging, it's soul destroying to say the least," Gabriella Fredriksson, of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, told BBC News.

The Bandung Zoo has been around since 1933, but recently, it’s been mired in criticism over its treatment of animals. Just last May, a critically endangered elephant, called Yani, died at the zoo. She fell ill a week before and was pictured with sores on her body; the zoo was closed for a short time as the elephant’s death was investigated.

Zoo officials deny any wrongdoing.

“Does being thin mean being unhealthy or not having enough food?” a zoo spokesperson told the Jakarta Post Wednesday. “On the other hand, looking fat does not mean an animal is healthy.”

Another zoo in Indonesia, the Surabaya Zoo, has also been blasted for animal abuse. In 2014, a young lion -- 18 months old -- was found dead, hanging from the roof by suspended cables. Before that, a pregnant barking deer and a Komodo dragon, a vulnerable species, were discovered dead on the same February day. In 2012, 40-lb. wad of plastic was found in the stomach of a dead giraffe, likely thrown in by a visitor.

In 2015, the Jakarta Globe reported that Indonesia had only four decent zoos out of the 58 registered zoos in the country.