NewsChinese zoo's 'panda dogs' spark controversy

Chinese zoo's 'panda dogs' spark controversy

In the garden, there were no pandas, so the workers decided to style the dogs in such a way that they looked like pandas.
In the garden, there were no pandas, so the workers decided to style the dogs in such a way that they looked like pandas.
Images source: © X:Funnynewshub

9 May 2024 15:11

Workers at a Chinese zoo in Taizhou, Jiangsu province, devised a controversial method to draw in tourists due to the absence of pandas in their collection. The internet was soon flooded with photos and videos showcasing their innovative approach.

The zoo staff dyed Chow Chow puppies, a breed of spitz dog, to mimic the appearance of pandas.

This exhibit was inaugurated on May 1. Visitors could view the disguised dogs from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM Greenwich Time. It wasn't long before the news of the zoo's deceptive practice went viral.

The zoo faced intense backlash. Nonetheless, a representative defended their initiative, arguing they don't have pandas at the zoo, so they opted for this approach. "People also dye their hair. Natural dye can be used on dogs if they have long fur. There are no panda bears at the zoo and we wanted to do this as a result."

Their goal, as further explained, was to boost zoo visitation numbers.

The zoo attempted to justify its actions by promoting the attraction under the moniker "Xiong Mao Quan," which translates to "panda dogs." The "Strait Times," a Singaporean newspaper, reported that the zoo clarified through signage that "panda dogs" are not an actual panda breed but rather dogs styled to resemble pandas.
A zoo worker disclosed to the "Global Times" that they do not view their attraction as fraudulent.

"This is just a new display we offer to visitors. We are not charging extra. The wording featuring Chow Chow dogs is correct and exactly describes what they are, so we are not cheating our visitors," a ticket seller commented. He also revealed that the exhibit had recently led to a noticeable uptick in visitor numbers.

The zoo reasoned that it couldn't display real pandas to tourists since the available space was insufficient for panda habitation.
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