New home offered to 'saddest polar bear in the world'

A polar bear - dubbed the "saddest in the world" - being kept at a shopping centre in China has been offered a new home in the UK.

Pizza made worldwide headlines in July after it was claimed he ''suffers for selfies'' at the Grandview shopping centre in Guangzhou. A petition to free him got more than 500,000 signatures.

Now the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster has offered the animal a new home in its specially created habitat for polar bears.

Its aim is to develop as an international centre for the conservation and rehabilitation of polar bears in captivity and in the wild, said Animals Asia, an organisation that promotes compassion and respect for all animals.

Animals Asia's Dave Neale said: "The good news now for Grandview is that they have the chance to put right their mistake.

"There can be a happy ending and the negative publicity they have suffered can yet be turned into a positive news story.

"From talking to them I know they know that mistakes have been made in terms of their animal facilities and ongoing care."

He said: "We would be delighted to see Pizza end up at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. He would not only enjoy incredible facilities, he would also be part of a community of bears."

The offer is being made on the basis of Grandview agreeing not to replace Pizza with another polar bear, Animals Asia said.