Visitors at the Shanwei Zoo in China were stunned to discover that the “pandas” they came to see were painted dogs modeled after endangered bears.
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The zoo’s attempt to pass off two Chow Chows as pandas backfired when footage of the fake pandas went viral. The video showed two animals with curly tails, a sign that they were not pandas. The zoo initially tried to deny the accusations, claiming that the animals were a breed of “panda dogs.” However, as more social media users and zoo visitors questioned the authenticity of the animals, the zoo eventually admitted to the deception. This confession led to backlash from zoo-goers, many of whom demanded refunds after learning that they had been tricked.
This is not the first time a zoo has attempted a stunt. Taizhou Zoo was caught in a similar scheme where it disguised Chow Chows as pandas in May. The zoo defended its actions by stating that it had no real pandas and used the dogs as a substitute.
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The incident at Shanwei Zoo has sparked widespread criticism, with many calling for more transparency from zoos and stricter regulations to prevent such deceptions.