In a zoo in China, dogs were painted to look like pandas
CHINA – A zoo in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province was caught painting Chow Chow dogs to look like pandas, causing major disappointment and claims of trickery among visitors.
This incident, revealed on May 1, 2024, is similar to a previous instance from 2014, where a zoo in Zhengzhou did the same thing. The recent case involved zoo staff cutting and coloring the dogs’ fur black and white, then putting them on display for visitors from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day.
The reason behind this trick was the absence of real pandas at the zoo. Zoo officials explained that using Chow Chows as fake pandas was their way of solving this problem, as they told zoo staff. However, this reason did little to ease visitors’ feelings of being misled, as they had expected to see real pandas, which naturally live only in certain mountainous parts of China such as Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu.
The situation was made worse by accusations of animal cruelty, though the zoo defended its actions by saying that the dyes used were natural and harmless, similar to people coloring their hair. This defense did not fully address concerns about the moral rightness of such actions on animals.
Public response to this trick was immediate, with many voicing their upset online. Observant internet users noted that the disguised dogs acted too lively and moved differently from the more slow-moving pandas, which led to the discovery of the trick.
This incident has brought to light ongoing issues in some zoos where the desire to attract more visitors can lead to morally questionable decisions. The situation at Taizhou Zoo emphasizes the need for honesty and ethical management in wildlife conservation and displays, especially when dealing with endangered species like pandas, to maintain trust and ensure the proper treatment of all animals in captivity.
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