Grandview Mall Aquarium has been on the receiving end of a barrage of criticisms for opening an aquarium with 500 species of animals. Animal welfare expert said the enclosures are too small for the animals.

Several netizens have criticized the aquarium, which opened in a mall in downtown Guangzhou, over the state of animals according to South China Morning Post. The facility spans 58,000 square meters across the second and third floor of the mall. It has been labelled as the "world's largest indoor above-ground polar marine world".

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The aquarium boasts of 500 species on display including several marine animals. However, a visit to the aquarium reveals disturbing symptoms.

An arctic wolf about 2-meter long is caged in a 130 square feet pen. The wolf was seen pacing back and forth in its small enclosure. There were scratches on the glass and the walls of its enclosure which is painted blue to depict the hue of the Arctic.

In another area, six beluga whales were seen swimming in a glass tank about four meters deep, six meters wide and 15 meters long. Each whale measured around 2 meters long.

Deeper into the interior of the facility, three Adelie penguins were seen isolated on a patch of snow. According to the staff, they will be isolated for 20 days to prevent any diseases as they molt.

Meanwhile, four walruses were seen swimming in a tank that stands one meter and spans one meter in width and five meters in length.

On Jan. 28, Guangzhou Zhengjia Group, which runs the Grandview Aquarium, issued a "Biodiversity Conservation Proposal" promising that all animals were acquired through formal and legal channels. They also pledged that the aquarium will operate according to relevant laws and rules.

However, the director of campaigns and communications at the International Fund for Animal Welfare in China, He Yong, believes that the animals were housed in inadequate enclosures and this might result in damaging the animals' mental and physical well-being.

There was no immediate reply when the Grandview Aquarium was contacted for comments.

TagsGrandview Mall Aquarium, world's largest indoor above-ground polar marine world, Guangzhou Zhengjia Group, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Biodiversity Conservation Proposal, Animal welfare