Chinese Zoo Sparks Debate with Exhibit of Chow Chow Dogs Dyed to Look Like Pandas

Chinese Zoo Sparks Debate with Exhibit of Chow Chow Dogs Dyed to Look Like Pandas

An exhibit at the Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu Province, China, recently sparked outrage when visitors to the zoo discovered dogs masquerading as panda bears and housed in zoo enclosures. Many people are accusing the zoo of animal cruelty.

width= Photo: YouTube/New York Post

The zoo's "panda dog" exhibit is made up of several chow chow dogs with their fur cut and dyed in a panda-like pattern to make them look like small panda bears.

See these "panda bears" for yourself in the video:

@mengtuantuan Does it look similar?#chowchow #lovely #Fake ♬ bunyi asal - lsabella

The chow chow is a sturdily built spitz-type dog breed originally found in northern China. This medium-to-large sized dog weighs about 40 to 70 pounds, a far cry from a panda's top weight of about 250 pounds. But, of course, little versions of big things are all the rage these days, so many people are happy to pay to see the spectacle, exclaiming over the cuteness overload the tiny "pandas" provide.

To be clear, the zoo never intended for anyone to be tricked into thinking their "panda" exhibit had actual pandas in it. They knew all along that the dogs wouldn't fool anyone. All the same, they say, they didn't have any pandas at the zoo, so they thought this would be a fun alternative.

Zoo officials claim that natural dyes are not harmful to the dogs, but we have to wonder if putting dye so close to the eyes is safe. Amd that's to say nothing of any other potential concerns.

Photo: TikTok/mengtuantuan
Honestly, it's hard to say which is worse - penning up actual wild pandas to be ogled at or artificially transforming dogs into "pandas" to play the part. We're not really fans of the idea of making a spectacle of a beautiful and endangered species for profit, but it's also upsetting to see an organization gain fame and fortune from a cheap mock-up.

What do you think of this faux zoo exhibit?

See more of the panda dogs in the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVXp2Cuw3z0&t=1s
Elizabeth Morey

Elizabeth Morey graduated summa cum laude from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI, where she dual majored in English Literature and Spanish with minors in Writing and Business Administration. She was a member of the school's Insignis Honors Society and the president of the literary honors society Lambda Iota Tau.

Some of Elizabeth's special interests include Spanish and English linguistics, modern grammar and spelling, and journalism. She has been writing professionally for more than five years and specializes in health topics such as breast cancer, autism, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Apart from her work at GreaterGood, she has also written art and culture articles for the Grand Rapids Magazine.

Elizabeth has lived in the beautiful Great Lakes State for most of her life but also loves to travel. She currently resides a short drive away from the dazzling shores of Lake Michigan with her beloved husband.

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