A Malaysian woman raises alarm over an alpaca allegedly confined in a mall petting zoo, sparking public concern over animal welfare and exploitation.
A Malaysian woman recently sparked a discussion on animal welfare after calling out the treatment of animals at shopping mall events.
In a post shared on Threads, she expressed her distress after allegedly spotting an alpaca confined in a small cage at what was believed to be a petting zoo event in a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur.
Elaborating further, the woman said she noticed several children and teenagers screaming near the alpaca, and shared her sympathy for the South American-origin animal.
“I feel so bad because it cannot run away or even react in any other way. Plus, the organiser just laughed and frightened the children even more, which caused them to scream even louder.
“Please lah, guys. Where is your sympathy?
“I have lodged a report, but please boycott this kind of event in malls. Even if they are cute or fluffy, just know that they are stressed too!” she wrote.
She also claimed that the petting zoo event had been operating for around two weeks.
As the post gained traction, many users echoed her frustration and concern for the animals, with some saying they had reported the event organisers to the authorities.
A few users also alleged that the animals were left alone in the mall after operating hours.
“I asked the security guard how long the alpaca has been there, and they confirmed that it was left behind in the mall after closing. It has been two months,” one user alleged.
“I will never encourage my children to pet animals kept in such conditions, nor will I support it. This is exploitation,” another commented.
“If anyone wants to see an alpaca, go to proper zoos or conservation centres. Do not bring them here. Sometimes when I see the rabbits, tortoises and other animals, I cannot help but feel sorry for them,” another user shared.
Netizens also urged parents to supervise their children closely and not allow them to run freely at petting zoos, emphasising that animals may already feel overwhelmed in such noisy and confined environments.
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