ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES – Since a new enclosure opened to the public on May 1 at a zoo in China, two ‘panda dogs’ have been both enchanting and puzzling visitors.
Videos of these animals circulating online have left netizens bewildered, as some mistook them for actual pandas, while others questioned if ‘panda dog’ was a legitimate breed.
Although many acknowledged the striking resemblance to giant pandas, some online observers found it peculiar that the animals would exhibit dog-like behaviour, such as shaking their heads.
Local reports clarify that these creatures are, in fact, chow chows that have been dyed to resemble giant pandas.
An information board put up in front of the enclosure at the Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu province tells visitors that panda dogs are not an actual dog breed.
They are rather pet dogs that have been groomed to look like pandas or that were born with coat patterns similar to pandas.
Such canines will often have a white undercoat with black markings around the eye rims and ears, mimicking the facial features of a giant panda.
One visitor said she drove past the zoo on May 3 and just had to visit after seeing cars swarming the zoo’s entrance.
She said: “After entering the zoo, I heard many people asking where the panda was. I just followed the crowd. I only realised they were actually dogs and not pandas after reaching the enclosure.”
Entrance to the panda dog enclosure is included in the zoo’s general entry ticket, which costs an adult CNY20 (SGD4).
A worker at the zoo explained to local news outlet Jiangsu News that the initiative aims to attract more visitors and make the zoo experience more fun.
He added that the zoo has yet to introduce actual pandas as the facility is currently too small and unable to house a giant panda enclosure.
While the attraction was a hit and attracted thousands of visitors over the May Day holiday, some netizens questioned if dyeing the chow chows is cruel.
