An aquarium in a Chinese mall dubbed the ‘saddest zoo in the world’ has come under increasing pressure to close down for the apparent ‘neglect’ of their arctic animals.

Housing two polar bear hybrids, six young beluga whales, five walrus calves and two arctic wolves among other animals, Grandview Mall Ocean World has been the target of a petition to see its doors closed for good.

View photos The zoo houses two polar bears in small enclosures with concrete walls and floors. Photo: Animals Asia More

Animals Asia, a Hong Kong based charity, has received more than 70,200 signatures on a petition to have the ‘prison’ shut down little more than two months after its official opening.

A video taken by the animal rights group shows a polar bear lying on his side in a small enclosure, surrounded by concrete walls and floor and enveloped in an unnatural blue light.

Animals Asia Animal Welfare Director Dave Neale said they were calling on the public to boycott the attraction.

View photos An arctic wolf lies in the corner of its concrete cell inside Grandview Aquarium. Photo: Animals Asia More

“This bear has no peace and nothing natural to take comfort in. What’s more, information on how best to try to meet the complex physical and behavioural needs of captive polar bears is freely available and yet this animal has been wilfully incarcerated in this way.

“We are calling on the Chinese public not to attend this attraction. We are calling for it to be closed down. This is a bear that suffers for what? For selfies? For shopping?”

Concerns have also been raised over the living conditions of the animals, with visitors stating that the beluga whales were kept in ‘filthy’ water, the whale shark’s tank was too small and a grouper died from neglect while in the aquarium’s care.

View photos Visitors to the zoo have complained that the tanks housing the marine animals are 'filthy' and far too small. Photo: Animals Asia More

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