The 'world's saddest polar bear' is to temporarily leave the Chinese shopping centre where he lives and go to an ocean park.

The bear, named Pizza, will be reunited with his parents when he returns to the undisclosed ocean park in northern China where he was born.

Pizza came to the attention of the world in the summer when a petition was launched to close the Grandview Shopping Mall in the Chinese city of Guangzhou where he is kept in a glass enclosure.

Animal rights activists argued that Pizza was suffering and exhibiting classic signs of mental distress - such as head swaying and repetitive pacing - so that shoppers could take selfies with him.

In a statement on Chinese social media site Weibo, Grandview said that Pizza will be temporarily moved while his home is renovated.

"Due to upgrading of exhibition halls, as a testament to urban renewal of Guangzhou, a result of the harmonious collaboration between commerce and tourism, and a witness to urban compassion and hearts of love, Pizza, the 'bear baby' loved by millions of tourists will say goodbye for a short period of time.

"He will return to the embrace of his mom and dad...

"To say goodbye to this polar bear prince and at the request of the visitors, we shall hold a great and special farewell party for him.

"We shall invite all the fans of Pizza, all the staff members of the Grandview Polar Ocean Park who see Pizza as a family member, and all other experts and people who have passion for the development of ocean parks in China to come to the party and to bear witness to the touching moment at the send-off party."

Pizza's temporary reprieve was welcomed by animal rights activists, with the Humane Society International (HSI) and Beijing Capital Animal Welfare Association (CAWA) urging the shopping centre to make the move permanent.

Mdm Qin, director of CAWA said: "We hope that Grandview will learn from this episode and move Pizza permanently so that he never again has to endure the dreadful life in a shopping mall.

"We still want to see the aquarium closed once and for all, to see all the animals moved, and we call on the Commerce Ministry to close all shopping mall zoos and aquariums and to prevent these types of zoos from being opened."

Peter Li, China policy specialist at HSI, said: "At last he will feel the sun on his fur, sniff fresh air and see the sky above him .

"No amount of renovation could ever make a shopping mall a suitable place for this animal, and to send him back now would be cruel and heartless.

"We commend the mall for being gracious enough to listen to Chinese and global voices of concern, and hope they will do the right thing for this poor bear who has already been through enough."

Mr Li added he is worried that Pizza may now be too visibly sick and distressed for public view, and that this is behind the mall's decision to move him.

Mr Li continued: "Our video clearly showed that Pizza was suffering, and we warned the mall that soon his decline would be so apparent that it would be difficult to have him on public display.

"Without a doubt, the mall has had to act due to tremendous pressure from Chinese and international campaigners, but I fear that Pizza's poor health is part of the reason too.

"If that is the case, it even further underlines the need to make sure he never returns to the Grandview Mall."