Chinese zoo admits their 'pandas' are painted dogs after backlash

A zoo in China admitted that they painted dogs to disguise them as pandas after receiving backlash from visitors, who became suspicious after the “pandas” started panting and barking.

Citing local media outlets, the New York Post reported that the scheme was exposed in a viral video taken at Shanwei Zoo in Guangdong province.

In the video, one of the "pandas' is seen panting while looking over at the visitors behind the fence, while the other one is walking with a visible wagging curly tail. They also reported that one of the dogs even barked at the guests, which prompted them to ask for their money back. 

NEW: China zoo forced to admit the truth after one of their “pandas” started panting and barking.

The Shanwei zoo admits they painted dogs white and black to make them look like pandas.

The zoo initially tried claiming that the dogs were a unique breed of pandas called… pic.twitter.com/MMoQLD7zuR

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 19, 2024

The zoo initially claimed that the animals were a breed of “panda dogs,” but later admitted that they painted two chow chows—a common dog breed in northern China that is popular for its thick fur—to be disguised as pandas. 

This comes a few months after the same scam was also reported in May, when a group of dogs disguised as pandas were discovered at the Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu Province. Newsflare reported that the zoo decided to buy and dye the dogs to draw more visitors after being denied the opportunity to board giant pandas.  

The zoo official maintained they didn't deceive visitors since they advertised “panda dogs” from the start and noted that they are not a specific purebred of the animal but rather canines resembling pandas due to dyeing. 

"Originally, they were two Chow Chows. The idea to dye them as pandas came from the internet, aiming to boost the zoo's appeal and increase visitor numbers. We've made it clear beforehand that they're not real pandas, so there's no deception,” Liu Qiuming, the zoo spokesperson said.  

They also reportedly defended their actions as they pointed out, "Normal people dye their hair. Dogs can dye their hair, too."