September 20th 2024.
It has recently been revealed that a popular zoo in China has been misleading visitors about their star attraction. Instead of housing actual pandas, the zoo has been showcasing two fluffy Chow Chow dogs that have been cleverly painted to resemble the country's beloved national animal. A video taken by a visitor to the zoo in southern Guangdong province has gone viral on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, with over 1.4 million shares and 725,000 likes.
In the video, the two black and white canines can be seen lounging in an enclosure next to a sign that reads "painted dogs". The zoo's manager, surnamed Huang, proudly shared with a state-affiliated outlet that these dogs are one of the top attractions at the zoo, which is aptly named "Strange Animals and Cute Pets Paradise".
The sign next to the dogs' enclosure also boasts about their unique appearance, stating that they are "Panda Dogs" - pets that have been dyed and groomed to look like pandas. Describing themselves as gentle, smart, friendly, and adorable, these dogs have been a hit among visitors to the zoo.
However, not everyone is impressed with this deception. A photo shared on social media showed the dogs in their enclosure with a sign that clearly states they are "painted dogs", causing outrage among animal lovers. The zoo's manager, Huang, defended their actions, stating that painting the dogs to look like pandas is one of their specialties and is in line with the zoo's theme.
This is not the first time that dogs have been painted to resemble wild animals in China. In 2019, a café in the city of Chengdu came under fire for offering a dyeing service to make pets look like pandas. And in 2016, pet shops in Guangdong were caught selling dogs that had been dyed to look like miniature tigers.
Unfortunately, this is not just a harmless trend. In May of this year, a zoo in eastern Jiangsu province sparked outrage after visitors discovered that they had painted two dogs to look like pandas. The zoo received widespread criticism and eventually admitted to their deceitful actions.
It is important for people to understand that these painted dogs are not real pandas and that this trend is harmful to both the animals and the public. It is our responsibility to respect and protect these animals, not exploit them for our own entertainment. Let's hope that this revelation will put an end to this disturbing trend.
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