jilibay 'Strange animals’: Chinese internet users ridicule and slam Guangdong zoo’s move to disguise dogs as pandas

SINGAPORE: A zoo in China has come under fire from outraged internet users after admitting that it had dyed a pair of fluffy chow chows black and white to resemble giant pandas. 

Some netizens also expressed bewilderment and amusement over the zoo’s “panda dogs”. 

The zoo in Shanwei city, located in China’s southern Guangdong province, is the latest in a long line of Chinese zoos that have courted criticism and public ridicule over the years for trying to pass off pets as wild animals. 

For some weeks, some netizens had raised suspicions on whether the animals on display were actual pandas, given that they looked and behaved like dogs as they were seen wagging their tails and panting in some videos.  

Given the intense scrutiny, a zoo representative acknowledged that the “pandas” were in fact chow chows that were dyed black and white. 

“You can see by our name we are ‘Strange Animals and Cute Pets Paradise,’” the representative told a television crew from the Sichuan Observer, a local Chinese media outlet, on Sep 16. 

“These are chow chow dogs being painted as pandas and are part of our specialties,” the representative said.  

That admission further set the Chinese internet alight, with many chiming in on the saga and sharing videos and photos they had taken with the animals.

“The panting and barking gave them away,” commented a blogger on a Weibo post that was shared more than 300 times. Other Weibo users shared their experiences visiting the zoo, and criticised the management’s decision to deceive visitors. “So when do animal conservation laws come into play,” wrote another user. 

The conversation continued on Douyin, where jokes and lighthearted videos were shared. 

In a Douyin video shared by a female user named Lin Yuyi who visited the zoo on Friday (Sep 20), she was seen excitedly stroking one of the chow chows through the bars of their enclosure. The dogs’ long wagging tails were spotted in her video. 

Related:Our bears are real, a Chinese zoo says, denying they are 'humans in disguise'

Many have also expressed concern about animal welfare and the zoo’s decision to dye the animals’ fur. 

Experts say that dying your pet’s fur can lead to skin irritations and cause serious allergic reactions. 

“I hope that the zoo will prioritise taking care of their animals rather than sacrificing them for the sake of being unique,” wrote a Douyin user.

Other Douyin users pointed out signs that were displayed around the zoo that acknowledged the dogs had been painted to resemble real pandas. 

The sign read: “Hello everyone, we are panda dogs - a type of dog that resembles pandas!” 

News of the panda dogs have also spread to websites outside China, such as Facebook, X and Reddit. “When you lie on your resume but still get the job,” one person joked in response to photos of the dogs that were reposted on Instagram.

Some Douyin users gushed over the “adorable-looking panda dogs”. Others on Instagram praised the zoo’s strategy to gain public attention. “Imagine being able to cuddle a panda dog,” said one Instagram user. Another wrote: “What you’re saying is… I can finally pat a panda.” 

Giant pandas are a symbol of national pride in China and are testament to the country’s successful conservation efforts over the past few decades, experts said.

The bear’s cute and cuddly image has also played a large part in shaping Beijing’s overseas diplomatic strategies.

A similar peculiar incident played out earlier this year in Mayjilibay, when a zoo in Jiangsu province presented chow chows which staff had dyed black and white to resemble pandas. Workers told local news outlets they had gotten the idea online and did it to attract more visitors because it could not afford to bring in real giant pandas. 

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