TAIZHOU, China – In a story that's equal parts absurd and alarming, a zoo in eastern China is facing fierce backlash after it was exposed for painting ordinary Chow Chow dogs bright orange with black stripes to pass them off as ferocious tigers.
The Qinhu Bay Forest Animal Kingdom in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, drew visitors and online viewers with a Douyin livestream, China's version of TikTok, on January 24, 2025, hyping up its exhibit with claims of "huge and very fierce" tigers. What visitors actually saw were fluffy Chow Chows dyed to mimic the king of the jungle, trotting around wooden enclosures in a less-than-convincing impersonation.
Videos of the "tiger dogs" quickly went viral, prompting sharp-eyed social media users to call out the deception. One commenter quipped, "A big tiger with a dog-like temper!" while others expressed disbelief at the lengths the zoo went to attract crowds.
Confronted by local media, zoo officials admitted the stunt was nothing more than a "gimmick." They insisted the dye was safe and non-toxic, and that the animals were simply "native Chow Chows dyed into a 'tiger dog.'" No real tigers were harmed or present in the making of the exhibit.
This isn't the first time the facility has resorted to such tactics. In 2024, the same zoo, or a closely related one in Taizhou, made headlines for dyeing Chow Chows black and white to create "panda dogs," advertising them as a rare breed while admitting they were just painted pups. Critics at the time slammed the practice as deceptive and potentially stressful for the animals.
Animal welfare advocates and online commentators have voiced concerns over the repeated use of dye on dogs for entertainment value. While the zoo maintains no harm was done, skeptics question whether repeatedly coloring the animals' fur aligns with proper care standards, especially in a country where zoo practices have long drawn international scrutiny.
The incident highlights broader issues with some Chinese tourist attractions, where flashy gimmicks sometimes take precedence over authenticity. As one social media user joked, "Last year it was panda, this year tiger. Watch out for next year."
