In a shocking revelation, Shanwei Zoo in China has admitted to a bizarre scheme: painting Chow Chow dogs black and white to impersonate pandas. The truth came to light after visitors noticed the ‘pandas’ exhibiting unusual behavior, including panting and barking, raising suspicions about their authenticity.
Footage shared on social media captured one of the ‘pandas’ panting while resting, its tail wagging, further fueling the disbelief. One viewer humorously dubbed it a “PANdog,” while another quipped, “That’s the Temu version of a panda.” The absurdity of the situation was not lost on viewers, with one commenting sarcastically, “They were panting—that’s why they are pandas.”
Following the outcry, zoo officials finally confessed to the ruse, confirming that two Chow Chows had been artificially altered with panda-like markings. This confession sparked outrage among zoo visitors, many demanding refunds for what they consider false advertising.
This isn’t an isolated incident. In May, the Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu Province faced similar backlash for displaying painted Chow Chows. Zoo officials back then had initially claimed the animals were ‘panda dogs,’ emphasizing that they had clearly advertised them as such and did not intend to deceive anyone. When pressed for clarification, a zoo representative explained, “There are no panda bears at the zoo, and we wanted to do this as a result.”
Public sentiment has been overwhelmingly negative, with widespread criticism on Weibo, China’s equivalent of X (formerly Twitter). Users expressed concern about the treatment of the dogs, with one stating, “It is not funny at all to dye Chow Chow dogs to attract tourists. Their fragile skin and naturally thick coats make them susceptible to skin diseases.” Zoo officials, however, defended their actions, arguing that the dye was not harmful to the dogs, likening it to humans dyeing their hair.
The incident highlights a disturbing trend of zoos in China resorting to misleading tactics to attract tourists, at the expense of animal welfare. This raises serious concerns about the ethical treatment of animals in these facilities and calls for stricter regulations and oversight to prevent such incidents from recurring.
