Zoo Had Interesting Excuse After Dyeing Dogs to Look Like Pandas

Pandas are a national symbol of China and one of the earth's most beloved animals. Getting to see one in person is a privilege, and people might go to Chinese zoos in the hope of seeing one. Visitors to the Taizhou Zoo in the eastern province of Jiangsu, however, got something very different. 

Video circulating on Chinese social media show two "panda dogs" in an exhibit that opened at the zoo on May 1. While their black and white colors might call to mind a panda, it turns out they're actually Chow Chows that simply had their fur dyed. For visitors, their wagging tails were a dead giveaway. 

According to NBC News, zoo officials confirmed to Chinese state media that they were Chow Chow puppies with altered hair colors. But it noted that there was nothing out of the ordinary as the zoo had clearly advertised them as "panda dogs" and not actual pandas, claiming it was not meant to lie to or misled visitors. They also pointed out that visitor traffic has stayed "at a normal level" despite the reports. 

While social media users were upset about the makeover, a spokesperson told Qilu Evening News that it was nothing out of the ordinary. "Normal people dye their hair. Dogs can dye their hair too. It’s the same as hair," they said, per People. 

Chow Chows resembling pandas aren't exactly a new phenomenon. Back in 2019, a dog cafe in the province of Sichuan sparked an outcry after images surfaced of its six Chow Chows that were dyed to look like pandas. The following year, another panda-colored Chow Chow was also seen in Sichuan. 

It's also not the first time in recent years that a Chinese zoo has come under fire for perceived false advertising. Last July, Hangzhou Zoo had to clarify that its Malayan sun bears were real and not humans in disguise after questions surfaced online about their physique and motions. And in the past, other zoos in the country have been accused of having fake animals such as dogs passed off as wolves or big cats. 

If you want to see a panda in real life, just make sure you're going to a real panda exhibit.