Zoo Under Fire for Dyeing Dogs Black and White to Look Like Pandas
Pikachu the Pomeranian and Panda the Chow Chow Have Become Unlikely Internet Celebrities
Taizhou Zoo in China Defends Its Decision, Saying It's Meant to Educate Visitors
A zoo in China has been accused of trying to deceive visitors with a pair of dogs dyed black and white to look like panda bears. The Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu province has come under fire online after videos emerged of two dogs—a Pomeranian named Pikachu and a Chow Chow named Panda—being exhibited as pandas.
Zoo officials have defended their decision, saying that the dogs are part of an educational exhibit designed to teach visitors about the importance of protecting endangered species. They argue that the dogs are clearly labeled as dogs and that there are no signs or other materials that suggest they are anything other than what they are.
However, many people online have criticized the zoo's decision, saying that it is cruel and misleading. They argue that the dogs are being exploited for the zoo's financial gain and that visitors could be misled into thinking that they are seeing real pandas.
The controversy over the dyed dogs has sparked a debate about the ethics of animal exhibits in zoos. Some people argue that zoos are important for conservation and education, while others believe that they are cruel and outdated.
The Taizhou Zoo is not the first zoo to be accused of dyeing animals to look like other species. In 2013, a zoo in Thailand was accused of dyeing a donkey black and white to look like a zebra.
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