Visitors have apparently been queueing to see the attraction at Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu Province, China

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/11618175

Zoo defends ‘panda’ exhibit after criticism for using dogs dyed black and white

On May 1, the zoo drew large crowds of excited animal lovers as it prepared to unveil a new attraction.

When the zoo revealed the animals, visitors were met with the sight of little four-legged creatures, with white faces and black spots around their eyes and ears - not unlike the colorings of a panda.

The only thing is, these creatures weren’t pandas. In fact, they were Chow Chows - a dog you might recognize from real life or social media, since they’re very much the opposite of a wild animal.

The spitz-type dogs originally come from northern China, and were presented at the zoo because the owners said they didn’t have any actual pandas to show visitors.

The owners were accused of trimming and dying the dogs to look like pandas, causing some backlash as locals accused the zoo of animal cruelty.

However, a spokesperson for the zoo hit back at the criticism as they pointed out that ‘people also dye their hair’.

  • VonCesaw@lemmy.worldEnglish
    15·
    6 months ago

    Depends on the dye, depends on the process

    There are a heck of a lot of places that only use dyes that are non-toxic in case they lick themselves

    • problematicPanther@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      6 months ago

      But let’s be real here, the zoo in china trying to pass off some chows as pandas probably aren’t bothered enough to use the non irritating dyes.