AsiaWire/Emily Wu
Chinese zoogoers are barking mad after learning the alleged pandas they visited at the Shanwei Zoo were just dogs painted to look like the at-risk bears.
The deception was uncovered by visitors after one of the so-called pandas began barking and panting like a dog, according to local media reports.
Video footage of the painted-up pups then began to make the rounds online … which shows 2 “pandas” roaming about the enclosure, where their curly tails are clearly visible.
At first, the zoo tried to dance around the allegations, claiming the obvious dogs were actually a breed of “panda dogs.”
As zoogoers and others online refused to accept this claim, the zoo eventually confessed the truth … that they had just dyed 2 Chow Chows — a fluffy dog breed popular in China.
Unsurprisingly, duped visitors responded to the revelation by demanding their money back — and we don’t blame them, FWIW.
This isn’t the first time a zoo in China has tried to deceive visitors by swapping out pandas for made-up Chow Chows. Back in May, Taizhou Zoo admitted to pulling off a similar scheme … though, they defended the ruse, saying the disguises were the next best alternative they could offer up.
The Taizhou Zoo responded at the time … “There are no panda bears at the zoo and we wanted to do this as a result.”
So, the next time you’re visiting a zoo, be on the lookout for impostors in the paddocks!
