At a zoo in China, some dogs have taken on new identities, transforming into miniature versions of a beloved, vulnerable species as part of a new exhibit. However, despite the cuteness overload, many visitors are outraged to discover that these dogs are being presented as imposters of the rare panda bear, a species native to China. On May 1, 2024, visitors eagerly lined up at the gates of the Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu province, excited to see the latest attraction. When the gates opened, crowds were immediately drawn to the fuzzy, four-legged creatures with distinctive black-and-white markings around their eyes and ears, looking very much like miniature pandas.
However, these adorable animals were not pandas at all. The Taizhou Zoo introduced “panda dogs,” a popular trend in China over the past decade. These dogs, actually Chow Chows, were dyed to mimic the iconic black-and-white patterns of real pandas. Zoo officials admitted to using dye to create this effect but maintained that their goal was not to deceive anyone into believing the animals were actual pandas.
Speaking with the Global Times (as reported by Sky News), a worker from the zoo clarified, “This is just a new display we offer to visitors. We are not charging extra.” They further explained, “The wording ‘featuring Chow Chow dogs’ is correct and exactly describes what they are, so we are not cheating our visitors.”
There’s little chance of mistaking these dogs for actual giant pandas. Real pandas can weigh up to 250 pounds, while Chow Chows are medium-sized dogs native to Northern China, typically weighing between 40 to 70 pounds. A video shared by the Shanghai Post on X (formerly Twitter) showed the playful Chow Chows in their enclosure, behaving exactly like dogs would. The post read, “Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu Province dyed two Chow Chow puppies black and white and promoted them as so-called ‘panda dogs.’” One user remarked, “Yes, people. The zoo tried to deceive you. But look how stinkin’ CUTE they are!!!!”
Despite the zoo’s assurances that they used pet-safe, natural dyes, international criticism has poured in from animal lovers accusing the zoo of animal cruelty. One user on X commented, “This is really a shameful act. Chow Chows can’t say anything about it, unfortunately.” Another added, “Makes you wonder how all animals are treated there, right? Poor animals.”
In response to the backlash, a zoo spokesperson defended the exhibit, saying, “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.”
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This isn’t the first time a Chinese zoo has faced accusations of using imposters. In 2023, the Hangzhou Zoo was criticized for allegedly presenting a Malaysian sun bear named Angela as a man in a bear suit. The zoo denied the accusation, explaining that sun bears are the smallest bear species and exhibit unusual, human-like behaviors. Similarly, in 2013, a zoo in Henan province replaced an African lion with a Tibetan Mastiff, a large dog. Visitors were shocked when the “lion” barked.
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Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu Province dyed two chow chow puppies black and white and promoted them as so-called “panda dogs.” pic.twitter.com/Jo7q1dBzZJ
— Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) May 5, 2024
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