Chinese zoo admits pandas are painted dogs after outrage

Chinese zoo visitors are barking angrily after learning that the alleged pandas they visited at the Shanwei Zoo were just dogs painted to resemble the at-risk bears.

The deception was exposed by visitors after one of the so-called pandas started barking and panting like a dog, according to local media reports.

Video footage of the painted-up pups then began making the rounds online… showing 2 “pandas” moving around the enclosure, where their curled tails are clearly visible.

Initially, the zoo tried to sidestep the accusations, claiming that the obvious dogs were actually a breed of “panda dogs.”

Because zoo visitors and others online refused to accept this claim, the zoo eventually confessed the truth… that they had just painted two Chow Chows – a fluffy dog ​​breed popular in China.

Unsurprisingly, aggrieved visitors responded to the revelation by demanding their money back – and we don’t blame them, FWIW.

This isn’t the first time a zoo in China has tried to trick visitors by swapping pandas for made-up Chow Chows. In May, Taizhou Zoo admitted that he had a similar scheme …however, they defended the ruse, saying the disguises were the best alternative they could offer.

The Taizhou Zoo responded at the time… “There are no panda bears in the zoo and that’s why we wanted to do this.”