Zoo slammed after visitors realise ‘pandas’ are just painted DOGS – when animals started barking
A CHINESE zoo has been slammed after visitors realised the “pandas” in the enclosures were actually painted dogs.
Zoo visitors demanded their money back when two so-called pandas in an enclosure bizarrely began panting and barking.
Footage shows two odd looking “pandas” in an enclosure, with one furry animal sticking its tongue out towards the sun.
Clips taken by visitors appear to show the pups with black ears, limbs, and dark circles around their eyes, but their canine features are still very much apparent.
The footage was shot at a park in Guangyuan that allows visitors to see “rare and exotic animals”.
The zoo claimed it had not misled people as it didn’t declare the animals were pandas, explaining instead that they were, in reality, “panda dogs”.
However, when quizzed by local media, they admitted that they had dyed two Chow Chows, a type of spitz dog that is from northern China and is famous for its very thick coat.
Visitors said they became suspicious of the way the creature panted, and when it barked, they realised it was more dog than it was panda.
Chow Chows are a unique breed known for their distinctive lion-like mane.
They are quite popular in China, as they are one of the oldest and most iconic breeds originating from the country.
Chow Chows hold a special place in Chinese culture and history, often depicted in art and literature.
While their popularity may have fluctuated over time, they remain a symbol of nobility and prestige in Chinese society.
Meanwhile in a similar tale, another China zoo has been slammed for painting dogs to look like pandas in a bid to draw in crowds.
The rubbish dye job was quickly spotted before the Taizhou Zoo forced to admit the animals were chow chows instead.
A picture of a ticket shared on social media included a snap of the “new species” as the zoo charged £2.25 to see them during China‘s Labour Day holiday.
The dyed pets sparked a wave of complaints against Taizhou Zoo as furious visitors claimed they were mislead into believing they would see real pandas.
They also questioned whether painting the pups would constitute animal abuse as some dyes might contain harmful chemicals.
Taizhou Zoo later admitted that the “fake pandas” were in fact dyed chow chow pups who debuted their new look for the national holiday.
But despite the the confusing name, the zoo didn’t seem to be trying to fool guests into thinking the dogs were real pandas.
A signboard with pictures of “panda dogs” was put up at the zoo, indicating that the name is typically used to describe little dogs that, either naturally or by grooming, can resemble pandas.
A staff member said the zoo got the idea of dyeing the dogs into pandas online.
At another zoo in China, a bizarre video showing bears walking around like people has led people to believe they are “humans in disguise”.
The strange clip, shared on social media, showing bears standing on their hind legs, in a human-like posture, has left users baffled.
People are adamant the animals are actually people in costumes, with some noting that they look like they are wearing baggy trousers.
The widespread speculation has forced a zoo in China to deny the rumours and explain they are sun bears.
The Hangzhou Zoo dismissed the claims and said that sun bears from Malaysia are smaller than other bears and look different.
Meanwhile, another zoo in China got itself in deep trouble after trying to pass a dog as a ferocious lion.
Visitors were enraged to discover that an animal in one of the cages was actually a Chow Chow, despite a clearly placed sign claiming otherwise.
After taking her six-year-old son to the zoo, Sharon Liu told The Orient Today newspaper that she was trying to teach him all the noises the animals make, but all she heard was barking.
She said: “To use a dog to impersonate a lion is definitely an insult to tourists.”