A Chinese Zoo Admits Their ‘Pandas’ Were Actually Dyed Dogs
Visitors at a small zoo in southern China started noticing something odd the moment they walked up to the panda enclosure. The animals were friendly in a way pandas never are, wagging their tails and trotting over to the fence as if they recognized every guest. The more they barked and panted, the clearer it became that something didn’t add up. Within hours, videos spread online and everyone wanted the same answer: what exactly were people looking at?
The Viral Reveal
The Shanwei zoo, located in Guangdong province, became the center of online entertainment after a visitor posted footage on Douyin. The animals behind the bars resembled pandas at first glance, thanks to clean black patches and fluffy white coats. Then the cameras caught details that changed the mood. One of the animals panted loudly while resting on a rock. Another wandered across the enclosure with a tail far longer than any panda would have.
Once the clips hit more than a million shares, commenters had jokes ready. Many pointed out that the startled animals were behaving exactly like Chow Chows, the thick-coated breed native to northern China. A viral photo later confirmed it. The two animals were labeled in a sign that read painted dogs, and the zoo’s management admitted the truth. They had taken Chow Chows and dyed them to look like pandas. They also said they never tried to hide it, noting their full name included Strange Animals and Cute Pets Paradise.
Why The Zoo Did It
According to interviews with local media, the zoo explained that the dogs had become a major draw. They said painting the animals fit their theme and added that visitors loved the novelty once they understood the idea. This wasn’t their first attempt at unusual exhibits, and the painted dogs were presented as part of a larger collection of quirky attractions.
But this explanation didn’t satisfy everyone. Some guests said they expected real pandas, and a few demanded refunds for what they saw as false advertising. The zoo insisted its signs were clear and that the dogs were treated safely. They compared the dye to regular hair coloring, telling reporters that people dye their own hair, so dogs could handle it too.
A Recurring Controversy
Image via iStockphoto/gracethang
This incident didn’t surprise longtime zoo watchers, who remembered similar scandals in other parts of China. In early 2024, a zoo in Jiangsu province admitted to painting two Chow Chows after first claiming they were a rare type of panda dog.
That response drew a swift backlash, especially after visitors complained the animals looked uncomfortable. Animal-welfare concerns surfaced again this time. Chow Chows have thick coats and sensitive skin, and critics argued that any unnecessary coloring posed a risk.
This story taps into a bigger pattern happening in multiple zoos. When budgets are tight and competition for visitors grows, some venues try creative shortcuts. That creativity can slide straight into controversy when public expectations don’t match the reveal. In this case, curiosity won, the internet had a field day, and the Chow Chows earned a strange moment of global fame, even if they never asked for it.