Chinese Zoo Sparks Outrage with Dyed 'Panda Dogs'
Staff at the zoo in Taizhou, China, decided they would do everything to have pandas in their zoo. Therefore, they trimmed two dogs' coats and dyed their fur black. "There are no panda bears at the zoo and we wanted to do this as a result," a garden representative explained to the New York Post, describing the scandalous situation.
8 May 2024 16:02
According to reports from the New York Post, the zoo in China displayed unusual animals. The fake pandas, presented on May 1st at the Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu province, were Chow Chow dogs, known for their thick, dense fur and distinctive faces.
The Taizhou Zoo authorities in China took an unusual step for an important reason - in their view, of course.
It was revealed that the size of the enclosure did not allow for keeping real pandas. When a zoo representative was asked why the decision was made to create "dog pandas", they responded: "There are no panda bears at the zoo and we wanted to do this as a result".
A family of bears took over the terrace. This recording is a hit
As reported, the zoo staff decided to have "pandas" at all costs. It turned out they trimmed the dogs' coats and dyed their muzzles black. Thanks to this, they almost perfectly resembled the iconic Chinese bear known for its bamboo diet.
The New York Post reports that every day from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM Greenwich Time, they displayed what they referred to as dog pandas in the enclosure, drawing large crowds of people.
Many people criticize the zoo, accusing it of dyeing the dogs' fur, which has sparked much controversy. However, the zoo spokesman, trying to calm the situation, responded to these accusations. "People also dye their hair," – he stated, adding that "natural dyes can be used on dogs, especially if they have long fur".
People in love with "dog pandas" from China
The little dogs pretending to be pandas certainly captured the attention and hearts of visitors. In social media, there was no shortage of admiration for the dog pandas that appeared in the zoo.
One internet user wrote: "They are very small to run that fast! I think they’re lovely." Another person shared this opinion: I think they’re cute".
"Ten years ago the natural instinct of a Chinese person was to eat a dog," – said London's Metro newspaper Hsin Ch'en, the owner of a pet shop in Chengdu, Sichuan province.
He added that people now love dogs and want such a companion. "Now we are like Westerners and want one as a companion. The cute breeds like French bulldogs and labradors were the favorites, but now it is the panda dog," - he declared seriously. Thus, this "new species" of pandas became an attraction in its own right.
