A Chinese zoo has angered the public by painting dogs in orange and black to pass them off as tigers, following backlash for a similar stunt with panda-like pooches.
The Qinhu Bay forest animal Kingdom zoo faces criticism
A Chinese zoo has sparked widespread outrage after painting dogs to look like tigers. The zoo has been involved in such a controversy before.
A video on Douyin (Chinese TikTok) shows a Chow Chow puppy covered in black and orange stripes. The dog is seen playing in its enclosure at the Qinhu Bay Forest Animal Kingdom zoo in Taizhou.
Social media users quickly spot the deception
Social media users immediately recognized that the painted animal was not a tiger. One user asked, “Isn’t that just a dog?” Another joked, “They definitely don’t dare to bathe their dogs for fear of discolouration.”
The zoo confesses: Dogs were painted, not tigers
After local media inquired, the zoo admitted that the animal was a Chow Chow. They had dyed the dog to resemble a tiger, calling it a “tiger dog.”
Separate images showed other dogs, which are naturally white, also painted with tiger stripes.
A gimmick, not animal cruelty, claims the zoo
The zoo defended its actions, calling the dyed dogs a “gimmick.” They assured that the dyeing process was done professionally and that the dogs’ health was not at risk.
This incident follows a similar controversy where the zoo painted puppies to look like pandas.
Other zoos in China also caught in fake animal scandals
The Qinhu Bay Forest Animal Kingdom is not the only zoo involved in fake animal scandals. In September, a zoo in Guangdong faced backlash for misrepresenting its pandas.
Visitors demanded refunds when they discovered that two Chow Chows had been dyed to look like pandas.
Taizhou zoo also criticized for dyeing dogs to look like pandas
In May, Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu Province allegedly dyed small Chow Chow dogs to resemble pandas. The dogs had their fur trimmed and were then dyed black and white.
Locals accused the zoo of animal cruelty. However, a spokesperson defended the practice, stating that the dogs were not harmed and used natural dyes.
The zoo defends its actions
The spokesperson explained that visitors were drawn to the “panda dogs” since there were no actual pandas at the zoo. They also responded to accusations of cruelty by pointing out that people dye their hair too.
The zoo’s actions have caused outrage, with many calling it deceptive and unethical.