While panda diplomacy is underway between the United States and China with San Francisco and San Diego set to receive pandas from China this summer, another Chinese panda-related story is causing controversy. A zoo in eastern China admitted to dressing up dogs as pandas because it didn’t have the actual animal.
While unbearably cute, the dogs, which are Chow Chow’s, left zoogoers disappointed after being unveiled on Wednesday, May 1, at the Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu Province.
Revelations about the zoo’s new panda dogs spread as people shared photos and videos featuring the zoo’s new exhibit. Observers noted two rather odd-looking pandas, with mannerisms resembling dogs, wagging tails and all. Well, because they are dogs.
Some zoogoers were reportedly unpleased, but some visitors pointed out that the zoo’s tickets advertised a “panda dog meet-up” and never explicitly mentioned panda bears.
Some visitors also said the dyed hair could amount to animal cruelty. However, a professional groomer maintains it is not animal cruelty. She noted it is safe, as long the dye doesn’t touch the skin and the paint contains natural plant ingredients.
A zoo spokesperson said they did it to attract more visitors, and the idea to dye the dogs came from the internet.
While this zoo said it didn’t try to deceive visitors, other zoos reportedly have.
One zoo in central China reportedly tried to pass a Tibetan Mastiff off as a lion. Visitors were reported being shocked when they heard the beast bark instead of roar.
Giving dogs panda-makeovers is not a new phenomenon. A decade ago, puppies dressed up as pandas became such popular item in Chinese pet stores that the stores couldn’t keep up with demand.
