By Tim Binnall
A zoo in China has come under fire for their rather unorthodox 'panda' exhibit that features small dogs that have been dyed black and white. According to a local media report, the weird case came to light last week when the facility in the city of Taizhou first showcased the pair of curious-looking canines. Dubbed Xiong Mao Quan, meaning 'panda dogs,' the peculiar pooches raised eyebrows among zoo patrons and online after videos of the dyed animals were posted to Chinese social media.
While some have lambasted the exhibit as deceiving, the zoo insists that the display is technically on the level. "The wording featuring Chow Chow dogs is correct and exactly describes what they are," a worker at the site said, "so we are not cheating our visitors." Beyond that difference of opinion, other people online have accused the zoo of abusing the animals by way of the odd dye job, though a pet beautician indicated to a Chinese media outlet that the the procedure was likely safe.
As for why they produced such a weird display in the first place, the zoo explained that they do not have any giant pandas, so the uniquely colored canines are meant to "fill in the blank." The exhibit has so far proven to be something of a hit as there has been a notable increase in patrons since it opened last week. That said, it is uncertain whether the uptick in visitors is a result of people being fooled into thinking that there were actual pandas on display or if they simply had to see the outrageous dyed dog display for themselves.