Imagine strolling through a zoo, captivated by adorable pandas, only to discover the shocking truth: they’re actually painted dogs. This revelation unfolded at Shanwei Zoo in China, where tourists were left outraged after witnessing one of the so-called “pandas” barking. A video shot by a visitor captured the moment, showing one of the not-so-subtly disguised canines lying on a rock, followed by another dog with a long, curly tail strolling by. In a desperate attempt to explain the deception, the zoo claimed these were a unique breed of ‘panda dogs.’ However, it soon became clear that they had just dyed two chow chows, a popular spitz breed in northern China, sparking outrage among visitors.
According to the New York Post, outraged visitors demanded refunds after the truth about the barking “pandas” emerged.
Watch the video here:
NEW: China zoo forced to admit the truth after one of their “pandas” started panting and barking. The Shanwei zoo admits they painted dogs white and black to make them look like pandas.
The zoo initially tried claiming that the dogs were a unique breed of pandas called… pic.twitter.com/MMoQLD7zuR
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 19, 2024
Reportedly, this isn’t the first instance of a Chinese zoo facing criticism for such deceptions. According to NBC News, in May, several fake pandas were discovered at the Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu Province. There, zoo officials dyed the faces of chow chows to pass them off as pandas. When questioned about the ruse, a zoo representative said that since there were no panda bears at the zoo, the authorities wanted to do this as a result.
At that time, both state media and the public criticized the zoo for the alleged mistreatment of the dogs. One commenter on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of X (formerly Twitter), voiced outrage, pointing out that dyeing Chow Chow dogs could make their fragile skin and thick coats vulnerable to skin diseases. In response to the backlash, officials defended their actions, insisting that the dye was harmless and arguing that if humans can alter their appearance, so can dogs, stated the NBC News report.
According to the American Kennel Club, Chow Chows are often referred to as the ‘all-purpose dog of ancient China,’ and are recognised for their fluffy, compact and muscular build. Although they do not naturally have panda markings, Chow Chows come in a variety of coat colours, including red, black, blue, cinnamon, and cream, in both rough and smooth coats.
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